COVID Test Provider Asks Public To Stop Berating Their Staff

CHARLOTTE, NC — Long lines traverse city streets as hundreds of people wait to get a rapid COVID test for free, thanks to local healthcare provider StarMed.

While other healthcare providers require appointments or maybe don't offer rapid testing on a drive-up basis, StarMed has many sites where people can just show up and receive a test.

With that service, coupled with great demand, has come some bad behavior.

"While we understand the urgency our patients feel when in need of COVID testing, we also must prioritize the safety and wellbeing of our staff members. Please do not berate or physically threaten our team who are doing their very best to end a pandemic we didn't start," StarMed released in a statement via social media.

There are reports of people showing up hours in advance to get in line for a COVID test. For those who want to seek out a StarMed location, click here.

StarMed announced last week that 20 of its providers had contracted COVID-19 themselves, and had to divert staffing from its vaccination locations to its testing locations.