Raleigh, N.C. — Cars were waiting in line for COVID-19 tests at 4 a.m. on Wednesday morning, hours before Wake County’s testing sites even opened. At 9 a.m., the line at the Kidd Road site in Raleigh was over a mile long, stretching through multiple intersections all the way out to Sunnybrook Road and New Bern Avenue.
The line created traffic delays in the area, which showed up as yellow and red lines in traffic and navigation apps.
WRAL reporter Kasey Cunningham, who has been at the site for three days in a row, said Wednesday’s line was the longest she’s seen.
The Wake County Public Health’s testing site at the Wake County Health & Human Services Center on Kidd Road has seen some of the longest waits in the last two days, with some people reporting waits up to three hours on Tuesday.
Wednesday is even busier as people seek tests two days before New Year’s Eve celebrations. It has also been five days since Christmas Eve gatherings, the recommended amount of time the Centers for Disease Control recommends getting tested after possible exposure.
Why are the wait times so frustratingly long? A big part of the problem, according to Wake County officials, is that people are showing up without appointments and cutting in line.
Appointments are now required at Wake County’s five testing sites. The county says if you show up to the front of the line without an appointment you will be asked to step aside, book an appointment and get back in line.
The long lines and wait times are causing some people to be unable to return to work after the holidays. Multiple local businesses in Raleigh have temporarily closed their doors due to essential staff being unable to get tested.
Despite the longer wait, the line was moving, and staff said results should still be returned in under 12 hours.
On Tuesday, six days worth of COVID-19 data was released by the state. The data showed nearly 22% of people — or 1 in every 5 — in North Carolina who tested for coronavirus on Sunday tested positive. That’s the highest percent positivity rate seen since the pandemic began.
Where can you find a Wake County COVID-19 testing site?
Wake County is operating a total of five testing sites:
- Wake County Southern Regional Center, 130 N. Judd Parkway NE, Fuquay-Varina
- Wake County Northern Regional Center, 350 E. Holding Ave., Wake Forest
- Wake County Eastern Regional Center, 1002 Dogwood Drive, Zebulon
- Vision Church RDU Parking Lot, 5808 Departure Drive, Raleigh
- Wake County Health & Human Services Center Parking Lot, 2845 Kidd Road, Raleigh
Same-day appointments were available at most locations.
You can avoid the lines by visiting dozens of other free testing sites open in the Triangle and across the state. Some sites, like the Word of God Church on Rock Quarry Road, are far less busy than those offered through Wake County.
The church is only minutes away from the Kidd Road site, and no appointment is needed. Results won’t come back as quickly, though, in 24 hours instead of 12.
The manager at Word of God Church’s test site says they expect a rush later in the week as people begin planning their New Year’s Celebrations.
When should I get tested?
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control said when you should get tested depends on if you were exposed to the virus and if you’re showing symptoms.
Those who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 should get tested 5-7 days after their last exposure to the virus.
But, the CDC said people who are not fully vaccinated should get tested immediately when they find out they were in close contact with the virus. If the test comes back negative, an unvaccinated person should get re-tested 5-7 days later or immediately if COVID-19 symptoms start to develop.
Where else can I get a COVID-19 test?
The state Department of Health and Human Servies website has a Find My Testing Place tool.
Other locations, operated by the state also offer tests by appointment. Hours and registration requirements vary, so those seeking a test may have to try multiple sites before finding an available slot. Options are:
- Boys and Girls Club, 721 N. Raleigh Blvd., Raleigh, NC
- Care Tax Service, 909 Rock Quarry Road, Raleigh, NC 27610
- Justice Served, 202 N. Tarboro St., Raleigh, NC 27610
- McDonald’s (adjacent parking lot), 830 E. Williams St., Apex, NC 27502
- 3804 New Bern Ave., Raleigh, NC 27610
- 8380 Six Forks Road, Ste 201, Raleigh, NC 27615
- 590 E. Chatham St., Cary, NC 27511
- 11200 Capital Blvd., Wake Forest, NC 27589
You can avoid leaving home altogether and order a free COVID-19 test kit online, although the kits are in high demand and geared toward people who may have trouble getting to a test site.