No Doctor's Referral Needed Now For COVID-19 Testing In NC

CHARLOTTE, NC — North Carolina residents seeking a COVID-19 test will no longer need a doctor's referral to access one, the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary said Tuesday.

The Statewide Standing Order for COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing issued Tuesday will streamline access and reduce the barriers for historically marginalized communities, DHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen said during a news conference.

"Don't wait until you have symptoms to get tested if you have an exposure to someone with COVID-19," Cohen said.

This month, 300 new temporary testing sites offering free testing will be opened in underserved African-American, Latinx and American Indian communities in 100 zip codes throughout the state, she added. The initiative will run through July.

While the new testing sites will add capacity, the wait time for processing test results is currently stretching to six and seven days due to a short supply of testing reagents in North Carolina and around the U.S., Cohen said. The supply issues are leading to "ballooning turnaround times" in commercial labs, she said.

SEE ALSO: 22 COVID-19 Deaths In NC, New Hospitalization Record

DHHS recommends the following seek testing for COVID-19:

• Anyone with symptoms
• Anyone in close contact or who has been exposed to COVID-19
• Historically marginalized communities
• Workers in high-risk settings where social distancing is difficult

Here's a list of COVID-19 symptoms, which DHHS said may appear anywhere from two to 14 days after exposure:

• Congestion or runny nose
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Nausea or vomiting
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• New loss of taste or smell
• Diarrhea
• Fever or chills
• Muscle pain
• Fatigue

DHHS's "Find My Testing Place" website may be found here. More information about symptoms and frequently asked questions may be found here.