The state government announced Monday there are several pop-up community coronavirus testing events to be held around the state. Some of them will be happening within our community this week.

Four days of testing in Chatham County are among the 55 upcoming testing events planned by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. From Wednesday August 26 through Saturday August 29, free testing will be set up at the Moncure Community Health Center.

According to a state release announcing the pop-up testing, the events are aimed to help minority communities, like Black, Latinx and American Indian communities, have increased access to COVID-19 testing. There will be no cost to those who get tested, with no co-pays or cost-sharing for any insured residents nor any cost for those who are uninsured.

State data shows the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has disproportionately affected historically marginalized populations. NCDHHS says there is also increasing evidence these populations are experiencing higher COVID-19 death rates and rates of serious complications from the virus.

This week’s events in Chatham will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Wednesday through Friday, with Saturday’s testing lasting from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. According to the state, the site will test children for free as well.

A list of up-to-date community testing events can be found on the NCDHHS COVID-19 website, as well as the Find My Testing Place tool.

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