Free COVID-19 Testing Site Opens In Cornelius

CORNELIUS , NC — COVID testing has been challenging in North Mecklenburg County with long lines at StarMed testing sites and store shelves barren of at-home rapid tests.

A new mass testing site debuts Tuesday aiming to offer the Lake Norman area another option for free testing from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at First Baptist Church of Cornelius, 21007 Catawba Ave.

A new site opened Tuesday in Huntersville also.

Mako Medical is the testing provider and they require no proof of insurance, no ID, no appointment or doctor referral to be tested.

It's "open to anyone regardless of where you live, especially if you have symptoms," according to Mako Medical.

Local emergency rooms ask that people not come to them for COVID-19 tests after getting overwhelmed with patients requesting COVID care.

Both Atrium Health and Novant Health offer testing by appointment and you do not have to be a patient to sign up.

This article originally appeared on the Cornelius Patch