Raleigh, NC – As positive COVID cases begin a worrying upward trend, Wake County is adding new locations where people can be tested for free.
Southlight Health, the newest permanent COVID testing 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 – at 4.4%.
But since then, positive cases have risen slowly – now at a positivity rate of 5.5%.
Why are COVID cases growing again?
There are several theories as to why the number of positive tests is increasing again.
It can be a small tip from spring break and Easter.
It could be due to the fact that more people go out and socialize due to eased COVID restrictions.
It could also be due to COVID variants, according to Jessica Dixon, WakeMed infection prevention specialist.
“We know I’m here,” she said. “What we don’t know is the measure.”
She said health officials do not have much capacity to extensively test specimens to see which variant strain is attached to a positive case.
At the same time as the number of positive cases increases, the number of people taking the test is declining by almost 50% in Wake County.
Health experts say that if you have any signs or symptoms of COVID-19, you should get tested – it’s free.