Raleigh, NC – As positive COVID cases start a worrying upward trend, Wake County is adding new places where people can test for free.
Southlight Health, the newest permanent COVID test site in Wake County, is intended to increase access to testing in Southeast Raleigh.
Wake County is increasing tests because of the alarming rate at which positive tests are rising.
The curve was at its lowest point in early March – with 4.4%.
But since then, positive cases are slowly increasing – currently a positive rate of 5.5%.
Why are COVID cases increasing again?
There are several theories as to why the number of positive tests is increasing again.
It could be a small peak from Spring Break and Easter.
This may be because more people are going to visit due to facilitated COVID restrictions.
According to Jessica Dixon, an infection prevention specialist at WakeMed, this could also be due to COVID variants.
“We know they’re here,” she said. “What we do not know is the extent.”
She said health officials do not have a great ability to test samples widely to see what kind of variant is linked to a positive case.
At the same time as positive cases increase, the number of people tested in Wake County is nearly 50% lower.
Health experts say that if you show signs or symptoms of COVID-19, you should get tested – it’s free.