State health officials say they're expanding access to COVID-19 testing

State health officials say they are expanding access to COVID-19 testing in response to an unprecedented jump in demand driven by omicron. 

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services says more than a million professional rapid antigen tests, at-home rapid tests, and other testing supplies are currently being shipped to the state. 

In a news release, the department said the tests will be distributed to schools, health departments, long-term care facilities, and other health care clinics that provide care to underserved communities. 

New testing sites are also being added statewide in response to the surge, including a mass testing facility at the Greensboro Coliseum, which opened last weekend. State officials say they're in the process of requesting federal help for both supplies and staffing.

Personnel continues to be a major concern for testing providers across the state. NCDHHS is advising vendors to ask patients to collect their own samples to reduce the need. 

More than 560,000 COVID-19 tests were completed last week, almost double the number one month ago.