Raleigh, NC – As positive COVID cases start a disturbing 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, aims to increase access to testing in Southeast Raleigh.
Wake County is ramping up testing due to the alarming rate at which positive tests are increasing.
The curve was at its lowest point at the beginning of March – 4.4%.
But since then, positive cases have been slowly increasing – currently at 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 on the rise again.
It can be a minor peak of Spring Break and Easter.
More people may be dating and socializing because of more relaxed COVID restrictions.
It could also be due to COVID variants, according to Jessica Dixon, infection prevention specialist at WakeMed.
“We know they’re here,” she said. “What we don’t know is its size.”
She said health officials don’t have a great ability to test specimens on a large scale to see which variant of a variant is linked to a positive case.
While the number of positive cases is on the rise, the number of people being tested in Wake County is dropping by nearly 50%.
Health experts say if you show any signs or symptoms of COVID-19, get tested – it’s free.