Testing and Treatments

• are 65 years of age or older
• live in a nursing home or long-term care facility
• are pregnant or were recently pregnant
• smoke
• live with a high-risk medical condition, including
  • cancer
  • chronic kidney disease, heart disease, liver disease, or lung disease, including COPD and asthma
  • dementia or other neurological conditions
  • diabetes (Type 1 or Type 2)
  • down syndrome
  • high blood pressure
  • HIV infection
  • immunocompromised state (weakened immune system)
  • mental health conditions and substance use disorders
  • overweight (body mass index [BMI] of 25 or higher but less than 30) and obesity (BMI of 30 or higher)
  • sickle cell disease or thalassemia
  • solid organ or blood stem cell transplant
  • stroke or cerebrovascular disease
  • tuberculosis

• Have symptoms of COVID-19.
• Had close contact with someone who has COVID-19, at least 5 days after exposure.
• Want to know if you could be sick before or after traveling, before visiting with a person who is at high risk of severe illness.

You can always call your healthcare provider to find out if you should be tested. If you do not have a health care provider and need help finding one, visit the Mecklenburg County Public Health (MCPH) for information. You may also call the MCPH hotline at 980-314-9400. More guidance on testing is available from the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS).

Find locations to get tested on site or pick up test kits near you. If you have proof of insurance, on-site testing and test kits may be FREE. Always call or visit the provider's Website to make sure the address, hours, and services listed are correct:

• Use the NC DHHS Find COVID-19 Tests tool.
• Visit the Quest, CVS, and Walgreens websites to see their testing options, which include free testing for people without insurance. 

COVID-19 treatments must be given by a health care professional and must be taken within 5 days of the start of symptoms, so it's important to talk with a provider as soon as you start to feel sick.

To learn more, visit the What to do if you feel sick page from the NC Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). If you need to find a health care provider, visit Mecklenburg County Public Health (MCPH) for information. You may also call the MCPH hotline at 980-314-9400.

These three drugs are the ONLY therapies approved by the FDA to treat COVID-19 illness:

• Paxlovid is an antiviral drug given orally (in pill form) for people 12 years old and older who weigh at least 88 pounds who have tested positive for COVID-19.
• Molnupiravir (brand name Lagevrio) is an antiviral drug given orally (in pill form) for adults 18 years old and older who have tested positive for COVID-19.
• Remdesivir (brand name Veklury) is an antiviral drug given intravenously (by needle) for people at least 7.7 pounds who have tested positive for COVID-19.

If you have not tested positive and want to get tested and get medication at the same place: 

• Visit the US DHHS Test to Treat Website to find clinics where you can get tested and get treatment in one visit.  

If you tested positive and got a prescription from your health care provider and just need to fill your prescription:

• Use the US DHHS COVID-19 Therapeutics Locator tool to find providers offering treatment. 

If you tested positive with an at-home test and want to get a prescription online or over the phone:

• Visit the Home Test to Treat site to find out if you qualify for free telemedicine visits.

If you need assistance:

• Call the NC DHHS COVID-19 help line at 1-800-232-4636 (TTY 888-232-6348).