The Georgia Department of Public Health announced Wednesday that people with symptoms associated with COVID-19 can now be tested for free and is offering a new way for residents to get tested.
Health care workers, first responders, law enforcement and long-term care facility residents and staff will also be tested for free and still be prioritized for testing regardless of whether they show symptoms of the coronavirus.
Referrals are still required to get a COVID-19 test, but now the state is allowing two types of referrals. The first is the usual health care provider referral given by a primary care doctor to a patient.
The second is from a local health department. Individuals who meet COVID-19 testing criteria may now be referred to Georgia specimen collection site by contacting their local health department. They will be screened by appropriate health department staff and referred to the closest, most convenient specimen collection site.
In Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Gordon and Walker counties, the number to reach the Northwest Georgia Department of Public Health is 706-802-5329.
In Murray and Whitfield counties, the number is 1-888-881-1474.
For a full list of counties and the corresponding local health department, visit dph.georgia.gov.
The Georgia Department of Public Health said in a press release people should not visit a testing site, hospital or other health care facilities without an appointment. Only individuals who have been evaluated by public health or a health care provider will be referred to a drive-thru site for COVID-19 testing.
As of Wednesday at noon, there are 14,987 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Georgia and 552 people have died.
Contact Patrick Filbin at pfilbin@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6476. Follow him on Twitter @PatrickFilbin.