2 NC counties are under alert, including Cumberland County.

In all three of these sewer blowback cases, the homes were below the grade of the road or downstream from the main sewer line itself.

How sewage floods at home turned into nightmares for Raleigh families

Sewage floods inside Raleigh homes

The North Carolina Senate voted along party lines Wednesday to ban anyone from wearing masks in public for health reasons, following an emotional debate about the wisdom of the proposal.


NC Senate votes to ban people from wearing masks in public for health reasons

Protestors gather in Graham 

All assets associated with the tag: MAKO Medical

MAKO Medical Coverage

WRAL News toured Mako Medical Laboratories' 10,000-square-foot lab in Henderson. Two weeks ago, the lab started testing for monkeypox.

North Carolina's largest COVID-19 testing lab begins testing for monkeypox

Mako Medical Laboratories has a 10,000-square-foot lab in Henderson.

Fresh from a Covid-19 collaboration with Thermo Fisher Scientific, Raleigh-based MAKO Medical Laboratories has teamed up with the global life sciences company again to address the monkeypox outbreak.

Raleigh-based MAKO Medical, Thermo Fisher Scientific team up for monkeypox battle

Friday's impending snowstorm led to the closures of public COVID testing sites, leaving those seeking a test with few options.

THANK YOU. RIGHT ON CUE WITH THE SNOW FLURRIES STARTING. >>> WINTER WEATHER HAS SHUT DOWN COVID TESTING CLINICS ACROSS OUR AREA. IN WAKE THOUSANDS OF APPOINTMENTS HAD TO BE CANCELED THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND. JOE FISHER IS LIVE IN RALEIGH WITH THE IMPACT THE CLOSURES ARE HAVING ON THOSE WHO NEED A NEGATIVE TEST TO LIVE THEIR LIVES, GO BACK TO WORK, THINGS LIKE THAT. >>> EXACTLY RIGHT. WE WANT TO POINT OUT IT IS SNOWING IN EAST RALEIGH. IT HAS BEEN FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. WE CAN SHOW YOU WHAT BRYAN WAS TALKING ABOUT, THIS LIGHT ACCUMULATION THAT IS ON THE GROUND. IT IS THIS SNOW THAT'S THE REASON WHY WAKE COUNTY CLOSED COVID CLINICS LIKE THIS BUSY ONE IN RALEIGH. FOR SO MANY PEOPLE A NEGATIVE TEST IS REALLY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STAYING HOME AND GOING BACK TO WORK. WITH SO MANY TESTING LOCATIONS CLOSED, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LOSING MONEY. EDDIE SPENT HOURS ON THE HUNT FOR A COVID TEST. >> I DROVE TO LIKE THREE FAST MS, ALL SHUT DOWN. CHRIS TAYLOR TON,CLAYTON, GARNER. >> Reporter: THIS BROUGHT HIM HERE, ALSO SHUT DOWN. >> I AM A MAINTENANCE TECH. I HAVE TO SEE THE PROPERTY IF I CAN GET A COVID TEST TO GET BACK TO WORK. >> Reporter: WITH NO NEGATIVE TEST, HE MAKES NO MONEY. WAKE SHUT DOWN ALL FIVE CLINICS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. MORE THAN 3,000 CANCELED APPOINTMENTS THAT WILL BE HONORED MONDAY. >> I UNDERSTAND. I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND BECAUSE IT IS FREEZING OUT HERE. >> Reporter: THE COLD AND SNOW ALSO SHUT DOWN CLINICS AT PNC ARENA AND WORD OF GOD CHURCH IN SOUTHEAST RALEIGH. >> I HAD TESTED POSITIVE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO AND JUST WANTED TO GET A NEGATIVE RESULT. >> Reporter: SKY 5 SHOWS THE EMPTY PARKING LOT AT WORD OF GOD WHERE RIGHT NOW ABOUT 500 PEOPLE A DAY ARE GETTING TESTED. >> THEY'RE OPEN PRETTY MUCH ALL THE TIME. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE COME AND THEY'VE BEEN CLOSED. >> Reporter: HIDALGO PLANS TO HUNKER DOWN. >> RELAX AT HOME. >> Reporter: GET TESTED WHEN THE STORM PASSES. THAT WILL LIKELY BE ON MONDAY WHEN SO MANY OF THESE SITES REOPEN. WAKE COUNTY IS TELLING EVERYONE WHO HAD APPOINTMENTS FOR TODAY OR TOMORROW THAT THEY CAN COME AT ANY TIME ON MONDAY BETWEEN 7:00 A.M. AND 7:00 P.M. THE COUNTY SAYS TO EXPECT LONGER LINES OF CARS AND LONGER WAIT TIMES ON MONDAY. DAN. >> THOSE PEOPLE SHOWING UP TODAY HOPING TO HAVE RESULTS BEFORE MONDAY AND NOW THEY HAVE

Winter storm shutters Triangle-area COVID testing sites 

The impending storm shut down COVID testing sites across the area Friday, leaving people seeking a test empty-handed.  

Winter storm shutters COVID test sites in Triangle

Eleven Wake County public schools on Monday began weekly testing of students for coronavirus in an effort to limit the spread of the virus, and the district plans to expand the testing program to all of its schools by next year.

Wake schools will use 'pool testing' to quickly, cheaply identify coronavirus outbreaks 

Mako Medical, coronavirus testing generic

Even before President Joe Biden decreed on Thursday that all employers nationwide with more than 100 workers require them to be vaccinated or be tested for coronavirus weekly, testing sites were busy.

CASES IS DOWN 12% FROM LAST WEEK WHICH COULD INDICATE WE ARE STARTING TO STABILIZE. ONE OF THE NEWLY ANNOUNCED MANDATES FROM PRESIDENT BIDEN WILL REQUIRE MANY BUSINESSES TO TEST UNVACCINATED EMPLOYEES EVERY WEEK. THE MANDATE APPLIES TO COMPANIES WITH MORE THAN 100 WORKERS. TONIGHT JOE FISHER IS ASKING LAKE COUNTY OFFICIALS WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO MEET THE INCREASED DEMAND FOR THE TESTS. >> Reporter: TESTING IS ALREADY SURGING. THE SITE IS THE COUNTY'S BUSIEST AVERAGING MORE THAN 2000 TESTS PER DAY OVER THE PAST WEEK AND COUNTY HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO SCALE UP EVEN MORE. A WEEKLY COVID TEST WILL SOON BE REQUIRED FOR MANY UNVACCINATED WORKERS. RALEIGH-BASED MAKO MEDICAL IS ALREADY GETTING CALLS FROM BUSINESSES INTERESTED IN ON- SITE COVID TESTING. >> INSTEAD OF HAVING THE LABOR FORCE OFF TO GET THEM TESTED WE CAN DEPLOY TO YOU AND DO WHAT WORKS FOR YOU. >> Reporter: ADAM PRICE IS DIRECTOR OF LOGISTICS. >> A TWO-MAN TEAM COULD TEST CLOSE TO 100 PEOPLE IN AN HOUR. >> Reporter: THE MANDATE WOULD REQUIRE COMPANIES WITH MORE THAN 100 EMPLOYEES TO TEST UNVACCINATED WORKERS ONCE PER WEEK. DOES ANYONE IN WAKE COUNTY HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT A TEST NOT BEING AVAILABLE? >> THEY SHOULD NOT WORRY. WE'LL SKI TESTING IS NEARLY SURGING IN WAKE COUNTY WITH 240,000 TEST IN AUGUST. A 115% INCREASE IN ONE MONTH. >> THE DEMAND HAS INCREASED AND THE DEMAND LET US TO EXPAND OUR HOURS. >> Reporter: THE COUNTY TESTING CITES ARE OPEN 12 HOURS PER DAY SIX DAYS PER WEEK WITH HARDLY ANY WEIGHT AND RESULT IN 12-24 HOURS. >> NO APPOINTMENT, NO ID, NO INSURANCE. >> Reporter: A SMOOTH TESTING PROCESS FACING A TEST OF ITS OWN TO KEEP UP WITH DEMAND EXPECTED FROM THIS NEW FEDERAL MANDATE. AND MAKO MEDICAL SAID THE COVID TEST ARE $100 APIECE. THEY ARE OFFERING PRIVATE BUSINESSES BULK PRICING AND ARE WORKING TO FIGURE OUT BECAUSE OF THIS NEW MANDATE IF MOVING FORWARD WITH THESE COVID TESTS IF ANY OF A COSTS WILL BE

Wake County, local firm ramping up virus testing

COVID test

Even with Biden's mandate, no shortage of coronavirus tests

MAKO Medical is the ACC football partner for COVID-19 testing. MAKO COO Josh Arant talks about testing for college football and how the Triangle-based company is on the frontlines in the fight against coronavirus.

CAROLINA >>> ONE OF THE NATION'S LEADERS AND COVID-19 TESTING IS MAKO MEDICAL. THE COMPANY SURPASSED 1 MILLION TEST CONDUCTED AND THEY DID SO IN THE PAST WEEK OR SO AND MORE THAN 98% OF THOSE RESULTS CAME BACK WITHIN 48 HOURS. JOSH AIR IN IS THE COMPANY'S CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME. >> THANK YOU DAVID. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. I WAS HONORED TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. >> TESTING NOW AVAILABLE IN MORE THAN 20 STATES, YOU HAVE A VERY YOUNG COMPANY FOUNDED ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO. WHAT HAS THIS YEAR BEEN LIKE? >> IT HAS BEEN A TRUE BLESSING TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION, WE SPENT A LOT OF NIGHTS, LONG WEEKEND, BUT OUR TEAM HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE. THEY WORKED TIRELESSLY WITH RESOLVE. THEY WORKED OUTSIDE OF THEIR JOB DESCRIPTIONS, SO IT HAS BEEN EXCITING BUT IT HAS ALSO BEEN ONE WE FEEL A LOT OF GRATITUDE TO BE ABLE TO BE PART OF THAT SOLUTION. >> WE TALKED ABOUT 90% OF THE TESTING THAT YOU'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH TURNED AROUND IN 48 HOURS. THAT COMPARES TO WHAT WE HAVE HEARD THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC, SOMETIMES FOUR, FIVE DAYS, A WEEK, WHAT MAKES YOUR MANY DIFFERENT AND IS IT A MATTER OF VOLUME OR SOMETHING ELSE? >> WE HAVE BEEN VERY DILIGENT ON HOW WE HAVE GROWN. WE HAVE MADE SURE THAT ANY VALUE WE TAKING, WE TURN IT IT AROUND WITHIN 48 HOURS. WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF TURNAROUND TIME WITH COVID-19 TESTING. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE VALUE OF THE TEST THAT WE PROVIDE HAVE THE UTMOST VALUE WITH QUICK, FAST TURNAROUND TIMES WITH ACCURATE AND RELIABLE RESULTS. >> THE BIG TEN ANNOUNCED PLANS TO COME BACK AND PLAY FOOTBALL GETTING OCTOBER. THE ACC NOW ENTERING WEEK TWO. YOUR COMPANY IS A TEST PARTNER. TALK ABOUT THIS RELATIONSHIP AND WHAT THE TESTING PROCESS LOOKS LIKE FOR BOTH ATHLETES, THE TEAMS, STAFF -- >> WE HAVE SEVERAL TESTING PARTNERSHIPS WITH COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, THE ACC, THE BIG SOUTH, SOME SPORTS TEAMS AS WELL. SPORTS ARE IMPORTANT. THEY ARE IMPORTANT TO LOCAL ECONOMIES. DURING THIS TENANT PROVIDE A WAY FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE THEIR MIND OFF OF WHAT IS GOING ON, BUT THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF THE PLAYERS, COACHES AND STAFF IS VITALLY IMPORTANT. A TEST PROVIDE SCHOOLS AND PLAYERS WITH PEACE OF MIND TO COMPETE AND TRAVEL AND WE PROVIDE THE END-TO-END SOLUTION FROM COLLECTING THE SPECIMENS TO GETTING THE SPECIMENS BACK TO OUR LABORATORY AND THEN PROVIDING RESULTS, SOMETIMES IN LESS THAN 12 HOURS. SO ONCE YOU START WITH ONE, WORD QUICKLY SPREAD AND WE HAVE HEARD FROM MULTIPLE SCHOOLS AND TEAMS. WE HOPE THAT CALL IS ON ITS WAY. >> WE KEEP HEARING AND YOU KEEP REFERRING TO TESTING BEING THE KEY. SO HAVE THE BASES SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES HAVE THEY RE- REACHED OUT TO YOU TO DO MASS TESTING? >> SOME HAVE, BUT SOME ARE DIFFERENT. MANY SCHOOLS HAVE SENT THEIR STUDENTS OWN, RIGHT NOW OUR FOCUS HAS BEEN AROUND THE SPORTS TEAMS AND ALLOWING THOSE TEAMS TO PLAY AND COMPETE ON THE WEEKEND AND DURING THE WEEK. >> THE NEXT BIG STEP, OF COURSE THE COUNTRY AND THE PLANET IS WAITING FOR IS A VACCINE THAT HAS FDA APPROVAL THAT HAS BEEN THROUGH ALL THE TESTING THAT WE ARE CONFIDENT IN. WHEN THAT HAPPENS, AND WE ARE ALL CONFIDENT IT WILL AT SOME POINT HAPPENED, DO YOU EXPECT TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT MASS DISTRIBUTION PROCESS? >> WE ARE HERE TO SERVE FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE WANT TO HAVE AN IMPACT. SO IF WE ARE CALLED UPON TO HELP WITH THE DISTRIBUTION, WE WILL CREATE A SOLUTION AROUND THAT. AGAIN, WE WANT TO BE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE FOR US TO GET BACK TO NORMALCY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. IF THAT MAKES US PART OF THE VACCINE SOLUTION, THEN ABSOLUTELY. >> WE WISH YOU THE BEST. WE KNOW THE SCIENCE IS THERE TO TURNAROUND TESTING VERY QUICKLY. IT'S GETTING IT DONE WITH THE MASSES AND WE APPRECIATE WITH WHAT YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS ARE DOING.

MAKO and COVID-19 testing in ACC: 'Safety and well-being of players, coaches and staff is vitally important'

After being forced to make cuts following the onset of COVID-19, MAKO Medical shifted its business model to begin offering COVID-19 testing. 