Georgia Doubles Covid Testing Week Over Week; Has Capacity For More
The Governor’s office has released statistics demonstrating the aggressive increase in testing Georgians for Covid-19. There has been a definitive change in the availability of tests and the posture toward those who desire to be tested, as emphasized by this quote from Governor Kemp: “We have the capacity, we have the bandwidth, and now we need the patients.”
Anyone with symptoms, as well as anyone working in a front line health capacity, first responders, and those working in critical infrastructure roles are encouraged to be tested.
The full press release from the Governor’s office is as follows:
Atlanta, GA – Today Governor Brian P. Kemp applauded the many public health officials, frontline healthcare workers, private sector and university partners who are working around the clock to ramp up COVID-19 testing in Georgia. Between Monday, April 26 and Thursday, April 30, Georgia more than doubled the number of tests reported in the previous week.
“I want to thank our many partners in this fight for their incredible work to increase access to COVID-19 testing across the state,” said Governor Kemp. “Thanks to Georgia’s partnership with our university system, the private sector, and local public health officials, we ended April by setting a single day testing record, reporting over 20,000 tests on April 30 alone. This is great progress for our state, but we refuse to rest on our laurels. In the days ahead, we will continue to increase access to coronavirus testing across Georgia.”
In March, the State of Georgia announced an unprecedented partnership with the University System of Georgia, Georgia Public Health Laboratory, and Emory University to process over 3,000 samples a day. Since that time, the state has also partnered with companies like CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, and eTrueNorth to launch drive-thru testing sites throughout metro Atlanta and deploy mobile testing units to areas with limited access.
Augusta University has launched a 24/7 screening app available to all Georgians on their smartphones to streamline screening and access to tests for symptomatic Georgians and asymptomatic frontline workers. The university is also helping to alleviate supply chain burdens and reduce Georgia’s dependence on vendors and governmental entities for testing supplies by 3-D printing test swabs from the Dental College of Georgia’s innovation lab.
Thanks to these efforts and the hard work of many, Georgia closed the month of April reporting a single day record of 20,675 tests reported. Georgia Department of Public Health specimen collections are up 64% in the last week, and the state currently has fifty-nine active designated testing sites. A map of all COVID-19 testing locations can be viewed here.
“We have the capacity, we have the bandwidth, and now we need the patients,” said Kemp. “I encourage Georgians who are experiencing symptoms as well as asymptomatic medical workers, critical infrastructure workers, law enforcement, first responders, and residents and staff of long-term care facilities to schedule a screening through the AU Health ExpressCare app and visit one the state’s more than fifty active testing sites if necessary. We will continue to work diligently to innovate and increase testing in Georgia, and together, we will win this fight.”
About Author
Charlie
Founder of GeorgiaPol.com; Now weekly columnist Very interested in Georgia and Georginas. Interest in politics is waning daily.
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Free COVID-19 Testing at Decatur’s House of Hope on Monday, May 4
Atlanta, GA – The Governor’s Coronavirus Task Force Community Outreach Committee, co-chaired by Dr. Bernice King and Leonardo Smith, has partnered with the Georgia Department of Public Health and DeKalb County Board of Public Health to establish free testing at a pop-up site at the House of Hope in Decatur this Monday, May 4, 202o.
If you or a loved one has COVID-19 symptoms or you believe you may have been exposed to COVID-19, this community-based site is your chance to find out if you have COVID-19. Pastors, local physicians, health ministers, and other community leaders are uniting to encourage residents to get tested.
WHAT: Free COVID-19 testing at a pop-up drive-thru site
WHERE: House of Hope Atlanta, 4650 Flat Shoals Parkway, Decatur, GA 30034
This is near the Kroger Shopping Center. Pastor and Dr. E. Dewey Smith is pleased to host in service to the surrounding community as well as for the church’s members.
WHEN: Monday, May 4, 2020 from 3 to 7 PM
Here’s What You Need to Know
Testing is free. Insurance is not required.
Anyone above the age of eighteen can be screened for testing, including those who are asymptomatic but suspect they have come in contact with the virus. Those under eighteen must be accompanied by a parent.
Testing is administered by trusted healthcare professionals. Some medical staff may be members of the community where sites are located.
You must pre-register by calling (404) 294-3700, then select Option 1, to schedule an appointment. Residents must be scheduled in order to enter the testing site location. Participants are emailed and sent a text of their scheduled testing time based on availability and site capacity.
FDA-approved COVID-19 tests will be administered.
Area residents will be guided through the House of Hope parking lot and remain in the comfort of their cars for the test. For those who arrive without a vehicle, a walk-up testing booth will be available with on-site screening.
More on What to Expect in the Testing Process
Register for a Test – Registration initiates screening criteria based on CDC guidelines to identify people eligible for free state testing. The criteria may change over time as public health needs related to COVID-19 response change.
You may qualify for free testing even if you are asymptomatic but suspect you may have come into contact with the virus, or if you are asymptomatic but have underlying conditions including – but not limited to – high blood pressure, diabetes, or immune disorders.
Getting Tested Helps the Community – It provides vital data to public health agencies on how the virus is impacting your community, identifies potential hotspots, and allows you and others to feel confident at work and home while you follow public health guidelines on social distancing and related restrictions.
As with most things those of us in Dade are better off going to other States to get tested. Chattanooga has a Drive thru site. And Alabama has multiple sites As always Dade is forgotten. This does not bid well for Mullis’s re-election support in Dade I am hearing.