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Why does Mecklenburg County’s data exclude numerous test providers?

CHARLOTTE — Tests conducted by Tryon Medical Partners, CVS Pharmacy, Walmart and non-Atrium and non-Novant urgent cares are not included in some of Mecklenburg County’s bi-weekly COVID-19 data, a spokesperson for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Joint Information Center said.

[READ MORE: CVS Health launches drive-thru Covid-19 testing in Charlotte]

The county’s most recent data released Monday claims 11% of individuals who were tested were positive for COVID-19. That statistic only includes tests conducted by Atrium Health and Novant Health. It does not include Tryon, CVS, Walmart and certain urgent cares.

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In an email to Channel 9, a spokesperson said the trends should still be viewed as reliable.

“Atrium/Novant Health are providing the majority (>75%, varies by day) of the tests in Mecklenburg and have been reporting daily tests (both negative and positive) since at least April 1, so the trend is very reliable,” said Rebecca Carter, spokeswoman for Mecklenburg County. “Daily totals of negative/positive test results from other providers were not previously available to Mecklenburg County Public Health to allow for reporting over time. We continue to work with North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and all providers and laboratories to set up reporting of negative/positive test results daily to allow for additional reporting.”

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Joint Information Center did not make a Mecklenburg County Public Health leader available for an interview on the subject.

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Mecklenburg County recently urged protesters and other people who recently attended mass gatherings to get tested at CVS.

A spokesperson for NCDHHS said reporting positive tests to the state is mandatory.