Deserted clinics: Rural NC struggles with access to COVID testing

North Carolina has upped its order of rapid COVID tests — but it's still not enough to meet the demand right now.

Some rural health departments are running out of tests in just hours.

Demand for a COVID test has skyrocketed since the beginning of the year. In the last two weeks, the Department of Health has distributed more than 110,000 rapid tests across the state — but some areas are running out before they can get more.

COVID testing sites in Raleigh are bustling 12 hours a day, 6 days a week. However, just an hour away in Goldsboro, signs reading "No COVID testing" can be seen at deserted drive-thru clinics.

This week, the Wayne County Health Department ran out of its 200 test kits in one day.

“We need those doctors offices to do testing. We need those pharmacies to do testing, because unfortunately the health department can’t do it all," said Joel Gillie, a spokesperson for Wayne County.

In Nash County, they’re liming testing — unable to meet the demand.

“There have been supply chain challenges in aspects of the testing supplies," said Dr. Scott Shone, director at the state lab for the Department of Health and Human Services.

He says there’s an abundance of swabs and vials, but professional rapid test kits used by many local health departments are in shorter supply.

"There’s nothing sitting in the warehouse. As soon as they come in, the warehouse staff immediately packages them and redistributes them based on the requests we have gotten from across the state," he says.

North Carolina has ordered 1 million additional tests, including 553,000 professional rapid kits and 460,000 at-home rapid kits.

“We’ll increase orders as needed," said Shone.

They’ve also sent test analyzers to help local increase capacity in places like Wayne County.

“We’re just waiting for some equipment to come in for those so we’re expecting by next week, we will be back up and running for testing," said Gillie.

The shortage of testing locations in some areas has led to more people going to the emergency room for testing – which is discouraged.

Remember: People should only be getting tested if they are symptomatic or have come in close contact with someone who tested positive.