COVID-19 Testing
Walk-in COVID-19 testing is no longer available at the Southern Human Services Center (SHSC) located at 2501 Homestead Rd in Chapel Hill. Please visit the following site for facilities still offering in-person testing:
https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/about-covid-19/testing/find-my-testing-place
OCHD does have access to at-home antigen tests. Please visit the lobby at SHSC and take one FREE antigen test from the vending machine. For additional information, contact the OCHD Vaccine Support help line: (919) 913-8088.
The Test to Treat initiative gives individuals an important way to quickly access free lifesaving treatment for COVID-19. Through this program, people are able to get tested and – if they are positive and treatments are appropriate for them – receive a prescription from a health care provider (either on site or through telehealth), and have their prescription filled all at one location. These “One-Stop Test to Treat” sites are available at thousands of locations nationwide, including pharmacy-based clinics, federally-funded health centers, long-term care facilities, and community-based sites.
The chart to the right lists all the Test to Treat sites in Orange County, as well as their contact information and requirements. A national call center is available at 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489) to get help in English, Spanish, and more than 150 other languages – 8:00 am to midnight ET, 7 days a week.
Planning to Travel?
Travel abroad often requires a COVID-19 test result. These two options specialize in this type of travel testing:
- Passport Health
- Phone: 888-499-7277
- Website: https://www.passporthealthusa.com
- Does not accept insurance. $285 same day result. QRcode included on report.
- Wake Toxicology
- Phone: 919-399-1215
- Website: http://www.waketoxicology.com
- They offer same day and next day PCR testing. Insurance covers all testing, however if no insurance there is a $100 fee. If client cannot afford the $100 fee, they can register on the website using the code “PEACH” or “UCOH13” and it will be waived. Qrcode included on report.
COVID-19 Home Test Collection Kit Program
The NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) has launched a pilot program to provide no-cost, at-home COVID-19 collection kits for North Carolinians who may face difficulties traveling to testing sites. People 18 and older can request a test and parents and guardians can request a test collection kit for those aged 2-17.
Learn more and request a collection kit at THIS LINK.
Other Testing Locations in Orange County
Click the image below for a full document of available testing locations.
DISCLAIMER: This Information changes often and quickly. For up to date info, please visit:https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/about-covid-19/testing/find-my-testing-place
or contact your preferred site directly!
NC DHHS Testing
Information from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services including a way to check your symptoms, up to date information an testing locations throughout the State, and Frequently Asked Questions about testing.
https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/about-covid-19/testing
Community Testing Events in North Carolina
Who Should Get Tested?
North Carolina is focused on rapidly increasing testing of people who may not currently have symptoms, but may have been exposed to COVID-19. NCDHHS released updated guidance for doctors and clinicians on who should be tested for COVID-19.
This includes:
- Anyone with symptoms suggestive of COVID-19.
- Close contacts of known positive cases, regardless of symptoms.
- Groups of some of the populations with higher risk of exposure or a higher risk of severe disease if they become infected. People in these groups should get tested if they believe they may have been exposed to COVID-19, whether or not they have symptoms.
- People who live in or have regular contact with high-risk settings (e.g., long-term care facility, homeless shelter, correctional facility, migrant farmworker camp).
- People from historically marginalized populations who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. This fact sheet provides best practices for community testing in historically marginalized populations.
- Frontline and essential workers (grocery store clerks, gas station attendants, child care workers, construction sites, processing plants, etc.)
- Health care workers or first responders.
- People who are at higher risk of severe illness.
- People who have attended protests, rallies, or other mass gatherings could have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 or could have exposed others.
Most people who get COVID-19 recover without needing medical care. If you are experiencing severe, life threating symptoms (for example, severe difficulty breathing, altered thinking, blue lips), seek immediate medical care or call 9-1-1.
Two kinds of tests are available for COVID-19: viral tests and antibody tests. A viral test tells someone if they currently have COVID-19. It is also called a diagnostic test. An antibody test tells someone if they had the virus before.
More info: https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/about-covid-19/testing
What to Do After Testing?
Source:
ENGLISH: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/communication/print-resources/3key-steps-when-waiting-for-COVID-19-results_card.pdf
SPANISH: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/php/Key-Steps-When-Waiting-For-COVID-19-Results_Final_508-es.pdf
There are a number of reasons why you may be tested for COVID-19. It may be because you have COVID-19 symptoms, were a close contact of someone with COVID-19, are in a job or a population that may be at higher risk for exposure and suspect you may have been exposed to COVID-19; or are in a job or a population for which routine or repeat testing is recommended or required. The information below will help you to determine what you should do while you are waiting for your test results, and what to do after your test results are available.
COVID-19 symptoms include:
- Fever, chills, or repeated shaking/shivering
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing
- Feeling unusually weak or fatigued
- Loss of taste or smell
- Muscle pain
- Headache
- Runny or congested nose
- Diarrhea (loose stools 3 or more times a day)
What do I do while I wait for my test results?
If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, were tested because you were exposed to someone with COVID-19, or you suspect you may have been exposed to COVID-19, you should stay home and, as much as possible, avoid others in your household. In addition, if you were tested because you have COVID-19 symptoms, everyone in your household should stay at home as much as possible until your results are known.
If you were tested for COVID-19 but have no symptoms and no known or suspected exposure to someone with COVID- 19 (for example, as part of a workplace screening program), you do not need to stay home while waiting for your results unless you are told to do so by your employer or by a public health official.
What if my test is negative? What if my test is positive?
If your test comes back positive, you should stay away from others and follow current CDC isolation guidelines for people with COVID-19.
Treatment is available, but even with newly authorized treatments, there is very limited availability. These treatments will be limited to high-risk people first – those who are unvaccinated or immunocompromised patients who are at high risk for severe disease, hospitalization or death. Talk to your doctor to see if there is a treatment available for you.
If you’ve been diagnosed with COVID-19 recently and are at high risk for severe disease because you are unvaccinated or immunocompromised, talk to your doctor about treatment or call 1-877-332-6585 (English) or 1-877-366-0310 (Spanish).
Monoclonal Antibody Treatment for those who have tested positive for COVID-19
If you have had symptoms for 10 days or less treatment options such as monoclonal antibodies are available. Ask your doctor about treatment or call the Combat COVID Monoclonal Antibodies Call Center at 1-877-332-6585 (English) or 1-877-366-0310 (Spanish). You may also visit UNC Healthcare and Duke Health System for the treatment.
Information that applies to anyone who is advised to stay home because of COVID-19
- Stay home except to seek medical care. Do not go to work, school, or public areas.
- Do not use public transportation, ride shares, or taxis.
- Separate yourself from others in your home, especially people who are at higher risk of serious illness.
- Stay in a specific room and away from other people in your home as much as possible. Use a separate bathroom, if available.
- Do not prepare or serve food to others.
- Do not allow visitors into your home.
Prevent the Spread:
- Wear a cloth face covering or mask over your nose and mouth if you are in a room with others. If you are unable to wear a cloth face covering over your nose and mouth or mask, others should wear a cloth face covering over their nose and mouth or mask if they share or enter the room.
- Cover your coughs and sneezes. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or sneeze into your sleeve -- not into your hands -- then throw away the tissue into a lined trashcan and immediately wash hands.
- Wash your hands often and thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds -- especially after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose, or after going to the bathroom. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer with a minimum content of 60% alcohol can be used instead of soap and water if your hands are not visibly dirty.
- Do not share household items such as dishes, cups, utensils, towels, bedding with other people. After using these items, wash them thoroughly with soap and water. Laundry may be washed in a standard washing machine with warm water and detergent; bleach may be added but is not necessary.
- Clean and disinfect all “high-touch” surfaces daily (including counters, tabletops, doorknobs, faucets, toilets, phones, tv remotes, keys, keyboards), and especially any surfaces that may have body fluids on them. Use household cleaning and disinfectant sprays or wipes, according to the product label instructions. More info: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cleaning-disinfection.html
Practice Home Care:
- Rest and drink plenty of fluids. You may take acetaminophen (Tylenol®) to reduce fever and pain.
Do not give children younger than age 2 years any medications without first checking with a doctor. Note that medicines do not “cure” COVID-19 and do not stop you from spreading the virus. - Seek medical care if your symptoms get worse, especially if you are at a higher risk of serious illness. • Symptoms that indicate you should seek medical care include:
- If possible, call ahead before going to your doctor’s office or hospital to tell them you are isolating for COVID- 19. This will help the health care personnel prepare for your arrival and protect others from getting infected.
- Do not wait in any waiting rooms and do wear a cloth face covering over your nose and mouth or mask at all times if possible.
- Do not use public transportation.
- If you call 911, first notify the dispatch and paramedics that you are under isolation for COVID-19.
Contact Tracing
Contact tracing is the identification and monitoring of all persons who might have been exposed to a person diagnosed with COVID-19. If you are COVID-19 positive or if you are contacted about having been exposed, you are not in trouble. Contract Tracers want to help by providing guidance to keep you and everyone around you healthy.
Contact Tracers Will:
- Tell you about your risk
- Tell you how to monitor your symptoms
- Help connect you to resources and support you may need
- Keep your information confidential
- Ask for your date of birth
Contact Tracers Will Not:
- Ask for your social security number
- Ask for your bank information
See sample scenario from NC DHHS provides a full picture of the contact tracing process from testing onward. Available in English and Spanish.