How many COVID-19 tests are available in Buncombe County, WNC?
BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — The News 13 investigative team continues working to get answers to your coronavirus questions.
Governor Roy Cooper has said it will take more testing to relax stay-home restrictions in North Carolina.
A viewer asks the I-team Coronavirus Help Desk, "How many tests are available in Buncombe County and if people aren't being tested, how will the numbers ever reflect the true accuracy of COVID-19 victims?”
The exact number of test kits for COVID-19 is unavailable, according to health officials.
New guidelines from the state Division of Public Health now allow anyone with suspected COVID-19 to be tested. When Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) reached out to 112 providers across the mountains, only 42.9% said they were testing for COVID-19. When asked if they had enough testing supplies and protective gear to get through the next few weeks, the number varied.
“Many of them will have enough supplies to get them through the next two weeks, approximately 65%, but that number as you look down to four weeks down the line actually drops to around 40%,” said Dr. Bryan Hodge, MAHEC director of rural health.
Dogwood Trust secured tests in Cherokee, Clay, and Haywood Counties, claiming the efforts are paying off. According to Dogwood Health Trust,
Dogwood has been working for weeks to source test kits for our rural health department partners who are committed to testing and tracing efforts as a means to stop the spread of the coronavirus. In Cherokee, Clay and Haywood counties, we're seeing these efforts pay off by keeping numbers low and managing outbreaks before they have a chance to grow. It is our sincere hope that others can use this approach of aggressive testing and tracing as a model to stop spread when an early case presents.
The great news is that WNC has overall successfully kept case counts low. However the virus clearly continues to circulate, here, in NC, and in neighboring states. As pressure increases to ease restrictions for many communities, Dogwood recommends that jurisdictions only do so based on the data, and with best practice protocols such as wearing masks and aggressive testing. Dogwood seeks to be a strong partner with those counties as we navigate this next phase of COVID-19 in our region.
Let’s work together to avoid a second wave of the epidemic,"said Antony Chiang, CEO for Dogwood Health Trust
An independent lab Monday had as many as 5,000 available in Buncombe County. As of Monday, in Buncombe County as many as 1,900 have been tested for COVID-19. That's fewer than 1-percent of county residents (.73%).
You can submit your questions to I-team@wlos.com. News 13's Jennifer Emert, Lauren Brigman and Karen Zatkulak will work to get an answer for you.