Raleigh, N.C. — A drive-thru COVID-19 test site in southeast Raleigh saw mile-long lines on Christmas Eve as people scrambled to be tested in time to gather for the holiday. Some waited up to two hours in traffic to get to a Mako Medical-sponsored site, outside of Word of God Fellowship Church on Rock Quarry Road.
Those in line told WRAL News they were motivated by a desire to know their COVID-19 status ahead of family Christmas gatherings, given the recent rise in cases attributed to the fast-spreading omicron variant.
Testing is available at the site Friday until 4 p.m. Those who test on Friday should get results within about 24 hours, and lab teams will be working on Christmas Day until all test results are processed, a Mako Medical spokesman told WRAL News.
The same test site will open again on Monday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“We know people desperately want to see loved ones over the holidays but we also know they want to do so safely,” said MAKO chief operating officer Josh Arant in a statement.
All COVID-19 tests are free, with no requirement that those seeking a test show ID, proof of insurance or citizenship. Mako is asking that those who are insured show proof of insurance, but Arant said the test won’t count towards deductibles or require a co-pay.
Registration is required, but can be managed online while in the testing line.
Testing sites abound across Wake County
Test sites sponsored by the Wake County Health Department set a record on Thursday, administering 12,322 COVID-19 tests. The day before, they administered 7,987 tests.
Those sites will re-open after the Christmas holiday on Monday, Dec. 27. The county offers COVID-19 testing by appointment at five sites:
- Wake County Southern Regional Center, 130 N. Judd Parkway NE, Fuquay-Varina
- Wake County Northern Regional Center, 350 E. Holding Ave., Wake Forest
- Wake County Eastern Regional Center, 1002 Dogwood Drive, Zebulon
- Vision Church RDU Parking Lot, 5808 Departure Drive, Raleigh
- Wake County Health & Human Services Center Parking Lot, 2845 Kidd Road, Raleigh
Other locations, operated by the state also offer tests by appointment. Hours and registration requirements vary, so those seeking a test may have to try multiple sites before finding an available slot. Options are:
- Boys and Girls Club, 721 N. Raleigh Blvd., Raleigh, NC
- Care Tax Service, 909 Rock Quarry Road, Raleigh, NC 27610
- Justice Served, 202 N. Tarboro St., Raleigh, NC 27610
- McDonald’s (adjacent parking lot), 830 E. Williams St., Apex, NC 27502
- 3804 New Bern Ave., Raleigh, NC 27610
- 8380 Six Forks Road, Ste 201, Raleigh, NC 27615
- 590 E. Chatham St., Cary, NC 27511
- 11200 Capital Blvd., Wake Forest, NC 27589
