New Hanover County Public Health will be conducting outreach testing events at various sites to bring COVID-19 testing directly to communities county-wide, eliminating barriers to access.

Testing is provided to anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or is a close contact to a positive case. Screening & testing is available on site by drive-through and by walk-up. It’s free of charge and you don’t need any ID or insurance for testing. Free masks will be distributed for those in need.

Test sites are subject to change and weather-dependent. For more information, contact the Coronavirus Call Center at 910-798-6800.

PAST EVENTS

• Monday, October 5^th from 4- 6 pm – Warner Temple AME Church, 620 Nixon St
• Saturday, October 10^th from 9- 11 am – MLK Center, 401 S 8th St
• Monday, October 12^th from 4- 6 pm – Union Missionary Baptist Church, 2711 Princess Place Dr.
• Saturday, October 17^th from 9-11 am – Greater Morning Star Apostolic Church, 1019 Meares Street
• Monday, October, 19^th from 4- 6 pm – Union Missionary Baptist Church, 2711 Princess Place Dr.
• Saturday, October 24^th from 9-11 am – Houston Moore, 1601 S. 13^th St
• Monday, October 26^th from 4- 6 pm – Union Missionary Baptist Church, 2711 Princess Place Dr.
• Saturday, October 31^st from 9- 11 am – Hillcrest Apartments, 1402 Meares St
• Monday, November 2^nd from 4- 6 pm – Warner Temple AME Church, 620 Nixon St
• Saturday, November 7^th from 9- 11 am – Vesta Village, 1913 Gufford Dr
• Monday, November 9^th from 4- 6 pm – Warner Temple AME Church, 620 Nixon St
• Saturday, November 14^th from 9- 11 am – Solomon Towers, 15 Castle St
• Monday, November 16^th from 4- 6 pm – Warner Temple AME Church, 620 Nixon St
• Saturday, November 21^st from 10 am -12 pm – Creekwood Homes, 714 Emory St
• Monday, November 30^th from 4 -6 pm – Global River Church, 4702 S. College Rd
• Saturday, December 5^th from 10 am -12 pm – Rankin Terrace, 415 N. 12th
• Saturday, December 12^th from 10 am -12 pm – DREAMS, 910 Fanning St.
• Monday, December 14^th from 10 am -12 pm – DREAMS, 910 Fanning St.
• Saturday, December 19th from 10 am -12 pm – Price Cathedral A.M.E. Zion Church. 1201 Orange St.

Open Community Testing at UNCW is now closed.

New Hanover County was one of several counties chosen to participate in the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ surge COVID-19 testing initiative. This testing site was open to the general public, meaning symptoms or being a close contact to someone with COVID-19 is not necessary to be tested. The site was open to the public from October 27 through December 17.

If you need a COVID-19 test, you can find testing resources by:

• Calling the New Hanover County Coronavirus Call Center at 910-798-6800
• Visiting covid.NCDHHS.gov to enter your address and find the closest testing site near you
• Checking the “Community Outreach Testing Events” section below for local outreach testing events through Public Health

You should be tested for COVID-19 if you:

• are experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19;
• have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19; or
• meet other criteria like working in a high-risk setting, have participated in gatherings or are a member of a historically marginalized community.

COVID-19 testing is available throughout New Hanover County through local healthcare providers, pharmacies, and other organizations. Call the New Hanover County Coronavirus Call Center at 910-798-6800, or visit covid.NCDHHS.gov to enter your address and find the closest testing site near you.

COVID-19 symptoms may include:

• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fever
• Chills
• Repeated shaking with chills
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell

Interpreters will be available in the call center and at the testing sites, to ensure everyone can access this resource. 

If you are referred for a test by the call center but do not have transportation, you may be eligible to have a COVID-19 test sample taken at a location convenient for you. A call center nurse will coordinate with you and send Public Health nurses to the agreed-upon testing location at a set date and time.

If you test positive for COVID-19, when Public Health calls with your results they will also make sure you have the resources and support needed while staying at home. Staying at home and avoiding contact with other members of the household can help minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19 and protect your loved ones and neighbors.

The Public Health team will also perform contact tracing. Contact tracing is a way to reach out to people who have been near someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. They will ask you about anyone else you have recently been near or in close contact with. This will allow Public Health to reach people who may have been exposed to COVID-19 and share any information and support they may need to stay at home until the risk of giving the virus to others has passed.

The team will not share anyone’s name or personal information. This information is confidential and will remain private. Each of these steps slows the spread of COVID-19.