Raleigh, North Carolina – As positive COVID cases begin a worrying upward trend, Wake County is adding new locations where people can be tested for free.
Southlight Health, Wake County’s most recent permanent COVID testing site, 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 increasing.
The curve was at its lowest point in early March, at 4.4%.
But since then, positive cases have slowly increased, with a positivity rate of 5.5%.
Why are COVID cases on the rise again?
There are several theories as to why the number of positive tests is increasing again.
It can be a small tip for spring and Easter holidays.
It could be because there are more people going out and socializing because of the COVID restrictions provided.
It could also be due to variants of COVID, according to Jessica Dixon, WakeMed infection prevention specialist.
“We know they’re here,” he said. “What we don’t know is to what extent.”
He said health officials do not have a great ability to extensively test specimens to see which variant strain is attached to a positive case.
As positive cases increase, the number of people being tested decreases by almost 50% in Wake County.
Health experts say that if you show signs or symptoms of COVID-19, you should get tested: it is free.