MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. — For the past 11 nights, tens of thousands have marched on Charlotte’s streets, but with so many together and coronavirus cases on the rise, health officials are concerned about it spreading through the protests.
Now, the Mecklenburg County commission wants every person who has attended a protest within the last week to get tested for the virus.
County officials said whether you are symptomatic or not, you will be able to get a test if you say you have attended a protest.
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The test is free if you get it through a hospital system or CVS pharmacy, according to Mecklenburg County Health Director Gibbie Harris. Results typically come back between 24 and 72 hours.
“If you have been participating in the protests, we are asking you to go to one of the testing sites and make sure you get tested to decrease the spread of the virus. That’s our request. We can’t mandate it but we are all concerned about what is happening in our community and right now we are trending in the wrong direction,” chairman George Dunlap said.
The push comes at a time when the state wants the county to dramatically ramp up testing. Mecklenburg County is currently testing about 2,000 people a day. The state wants that number to be 20,000.
If you are one of the tens of thousands of people who have attended a protest recently in the Charlotte area, here is a website where you can find a COVID-19 testing center. There is one within 5 miles of every county resident, according to Gibbie Harris https://t.co/zWdylXWJ77 pic.twitter.com/ZWAWzU6LPb
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Eventually anyone who wants a test will be able to get one but for now, commissioners and health officials said the capacity is there for protesters to be able to find out whether or not they have COVID-19.
Atrium Health doctor Katie Passaretti told Channel 9 she understands why the county is concerned. She said increased density and more people being together for longer periods of time makes contracting the virus easier.
President of Charlotte’s National Association for the Advancement of Colored People said organizers are already doing a lot to keep people safe and she supports the call for testing.
“We had two large events. We were intentional to make sure we had face masks for everyone and hands sanitizer for everyone,” she said. “They’re not going to stop coming out. They’re exercising their 1st amendment rights.”
The White House contacted the state last week about North Carolina’s increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. Mecklenburg County is one of 7 counties the state is concerned about.
Harris said every county resident lives within 5 miles of a testing site.
Looking for a testing site? Click here.
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