Free COVID-19 tests available for NC residents in select ZIP codes. How to get them.

As COVID-19 rates continue to rise across the state, a new round of free, at-home tests have just become available for select North Carolinians.

The Rockefeller Foundation, in partnership with the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, is prepared to distribute five COVID tests by mail to households who request them.

Through a combination of ZIP code analysis for uninsured rates, median income and distance from out-of-home testing options, NCDHHS has limited the scope of these tests to areas of the greatest potential need.

NCDHHS notes that 80 North Carolina counties are full covered by the program with 13 more partially covered.

Currently, residents in Durham’s 27701, 27703, 27704, 27705 and Raleigh’s 27601 ZIP codes are eligible to receive these tests, according to the website at accesscovidtests.org.

For those ineligible, the third round of tests from the federal government are still available by mail to those who request them at covid.gov/tests. Each order contains eight rapid tests.

NCDHHS is reporting the majority of North Carolina counties at high levels of transmission. Hospital admissions also continue to rise, according to the NCDHHS COVID-19 dashboard.

In addition to at-home kits, a number of free testing sites can be found across the Triangle.

This story was originally published August 9, 2022 at 5:17 PM with the headline "Free COVID-19 tests available for NC residents in select ZIP codes. How to get them.."