COVID-19 mass testing sites open in Wilmington and Brunswick County

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - In response to a surge in COVID-19 cases in the community, Novant Health has partnered with Ottendorf Laboratories to provide free mass testing sites in Wilmington and Brunswick County, effective Monday, January 31.

Patients trickled in throughout the day Monday, however the site parking lot was virtually empty, much unlike the crowds and lines at past mass testing events.

Both locations will be open daily and can accommodate hundreds of tests each day. No appointment is required.

The goal of the program is both to ensure everyone has access to testing, and also to ease the strain on the hospital emergency department, which can see dozens of people a day seeking a COVID test.

“There are a lot — we’re probably seeing around 50 to 75 people a day at multiple locations across the system that are looking for testing, most of those are asymptomatic people. They’re just looking for testing, or returning to work and they need clearance to return to work,” said Paul Carr, Novant NHRMC hospital and regional disaster operations manager.

Novant was selected by the state to partner with Ottendorf Labs and received funding from the state department of health and human services. Ottendorf Labs are staffing the sites and testing the samples, allowing Novant staff to remain at work in the hospital.

“That’s huge,” said Carr. “Nationwide we’re short nurses everywhere; we’re short doctors everywhere; we’re short-staffed — even support staff — everywhere. So in order to support an event like this, we would need to take quite a few people away, but having partnerships with Ottendorf Labs, we don’t have to do that because now we can concentrate on taking care of the sick patients.”

Wilmington COVID-19 testing site is adjacent to New Hanover Regional Medical Center at 2015 S. 17th St., Wilmington, NC 28401.

Testing takes place inside the former bank building at the corner of South 17th Street and Savannah Court near New Hanover Regional Medical Center’s campus.

Operating hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, seven days a week, beginning Monday, January 31.

Brunswick County COVID-19 testing site is on the campus of Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center at 240 Hospital Drive, Bolivia, NC 28422.

Drive-thru testing is available on the campus of Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center. Please follow on-campus signs directing drivers to the testing site.

Operating hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday – Saturday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, except Jan. 31, 2022, when this site will open at 10 a.m.

Everybody is welcome to use the testing sites and no photo ID or proof of health insurance is required; however, attendees will need to complete paperwork on-site. Rapid tests are not available at the sites.

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