Free COVID-19 testing is being offered in Vance and Granville counties

David Irvine, Henderson (N.C.) Daily Dispatch
·1 min read

Mar. 3—HENDERSON — Area residents will find it easier to receive COVID-19 testing this spring.

Granville-Vance Public Health, OptumServe, the state of North Carolina, the Vance County Schools and the Granville County Public Schools are collaborating to make the testing available for members of the community.

Lisa Harrison, Granville-Vance health director, said the service is being offered at one central site in Vance County and at two sites in Granville County.

The sites and their hours of operation are:

—The parking lot for the Vance County Schools administration building, 1724 Graham Ave., Henderson, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

—Butner Stem Middle School, 501 East D St., Butner, Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

—Mary Potter Center for Education, 200 Taylor St., Oxford, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The testing is free and available to the public.

Harrison said the state contracted with companies such as OptumServe with mobile units to set up testing sites around the state.

The move relieves local health departments of some of the responsibility for testing as they take on major responsibilities for administering vaccines.

OptumServe, a health services and innovation company, was created to help federal health agencies deal with the many challenges of providing health care to the nation.

Current plans are for the free testing to be available at least through May 31.

Ed Kimiecik, account manager for OptumServe, said the state has extended the contract through the end of May, with the possibility of extending it beyond that point.