Avoid Charlotte ERs For COVID Tests, Try These 3 Options Instead

CHARLOTTE, NC — Both Atrium Health and Novant Health are asking the public to please try to find COVID testing outside of the emergency room.

On Atrium Health's social media, they ask people to avoid the ER if at all possible.

"We want to care for you the best way we can. If you’re experiencing life-threatening symptoms, please call 911 or go to an Emergency Room right away. For moderate symptoms, contact your doctor’s office or visit an Urgent Care for treatment. If you need a COVID-19 test but don’t have symptoms that require immediate care, find out your options here."

Novant Health has a similar message, reiterating that people must make appointments at their sites.

"If you are experiencing #COVID19 symptoms or believe you were exposed please do not go to the ER for a test. You can find a testing location near you or utilize our online self-guided assessment tool by visiting NovantHealth.org/CovidTest." Their appointments are not just for existing Novant patients, either.

Where Do I Get Tested Without An Appointment?

Since both healthcare systems are offering COVID tests through appointments, that's the easiest way to ensure you get a test and don't have to wait in line is to go through the appointment process. You will have to wait on results. Novant and Atrium offer PCR tests at their sites, which take a day or two to get results for.

Novant Health announced Tuesday their mass testing site will expand from three times a week to Monday-Fridays from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. at 125 Baldwin Ave. in midtown Charlotte. Again, these are PCR tests.

Atrium Health has community mass testing sites but they're on specific days and times at 4222 Beam Drive, typically 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. You should check their website before you go, and you can do that by clicking here. Again, PCR tests.

What About Rapid Tests?

The company bearing the brunt of mass testing is StarMed, an urgent care chain operating multiple testing sites in the Charlotte and Lake Norman in addition to other areas. StarMed is using rapid tests, which is why sometimes the lines to get tested are hours long.

People want to know immediately, and local stores are struggling to keep rapid tests in stock.

To check in with StarMed, you can register and make the process a little easier, or the biggest tip is to show up early. Visit their website by clicking here, put in your zip code and look for a location nearby. Do this one the day you want a test to get the most accurate locations and times.

Recently, StarMed has experienced such long lines, they've had to cut them off at certain times to make sure they get to everyone. Charlotte Police have also been forced to cut off lines because they've extended into major roads.

StarMed also announced last week that 20 of its employees got COVID themselves, which forced locations to shift personnel. The best way to stay on top of what's happening is StarMed's Twitter account, which you can see by clicking here.

Local stores like CVS or Walgreens have taken the approach of putting signs on their doors if they are out of rapid tests, because sometimes their websites don't update in a timely manner. Check their websites first.

You can also look for free COVID testing through local pharmacies by making appointments with then on their websites. Right now, appointments are full several days in advance.

Have A Test Mailed To You

You can still get a test mailed to you by North Carolina state health officials. You can request the test through this link and get it in the mail typically within a couple days. The Pixel test is a free at-home test that involves you swabbing your own nose and sending it back to them. Again, the drawback is that it takes the time to get to you, then you take the test and have to mail it back before you get results. If they're backed up, their website will update and reflect that. Get all the details here.