Where you can get free COVID-19 testing in the Chattanooga region

April 17, 2020 at 10:00 p.m. | Updated April 18, 2020 at 9:16 a.m.

by Meghan Mangrum

A health care worker checks in an elderly man with an appointment at a pilot large scale drive-through COVID-19 testing site at the Georgia International Horse Park on Thursday, April 16, 2020, in Conyers, Ga. Testing is by appointment only and open to anyone in the general public who believes they are ill with COVID-19. According to Chad Wasdin, communications director for the Gwinnett Rockdale Newton Health Departments, due to increased testing capacity 400 appointments are scheduled for anyone who thinks they may be ill with the virus. While the Health Department requires a scheduled appointment to test individuals, referral from a doctor is not necessary. There is no charge for the testing, and those tested do not need to provide health insurance information. "We look forward to piloting this large-scale test site," said Dr. Audrey Arona, district health director and CEO of Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale County Health Departments. "This is a fantastic collaboration between Rockdale and Newton county governments, their EMAs, and the Health Department. Testing will provide individuals in the community an opportunity to learn if their illness is consistent with the COVID-19 virus, and it will help us improve our plans for providing large-scale testing. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
A health care worker checks in an elderly man with an appointment at a pilot large scale drive-through COVID-19 testing site at the Georgia International Horse Park on Thursday, April 16, 2020, in Conyers, Ga. Testing is by appointment only and open to anyone in the general public who believes they are ill with COVID-19. According to Chad Wasdin, communications director for the Gwinnett Rockdale Newton Health Departments, due to increased testing capacity 400 appointments are scheduled for anyone who thinks they may be ill with the virus. While the Health Department requires a scheduled appointment to test individuals, referral from a doctor is not necessary. There is no charge for the testing, and those tested do not need to provide health insurance information. "We look forward to piloting this large-scale test site," said Dr. Audrey Arona, district health director and CEO of Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale County Health Departments. "This is a fantastic collaboration between Rockdale and Newton county governments, their EMAs, and the Health Department. Testing will provide individuals in the community an opportunity to learn if their illness is consistent with the COVID-19 virus, and it will help us improve our plans for providing large-scale testing. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

As Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee begins the push to loosen restrictions put in place across the state to mitigate the coronavirus outbreak, testing remains a significant piece of the fight.

On Friday, Lee announced an aggressive effort to expand testing capacity across the state, including access to free COVID-19 testing for any Tennessean regardless of symptoms.

"As we look to reboot our state's economy, we must have a greater understanding of how this virus is operating in Tennessee," Lee said in a news release. "Expanding our COVID-19 testing capacity allows more Tennesseans to have improved access to testing which will empower citizens to make informed health decisions."

The Unified Command Group, made up of the Tennessee Department of Health, Tennessee Department of Military and Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), will staff sites across the state this weekend, April 18-19, as well as the weekends of April 25-26 and May 2-3. Many local health departments and private providers will continue to provide testing.

Most rural health departments also already provide free testing.

"Until there is a vaccine for COVID-19, quickly detecting this illness, isolating if ill and practicing social distancing are the most powerful tools we have to stop the spread and help our state return to work," said Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey in a news release. "I encourage every Tennessean to remember: 'when in doubt, get a test' as we work to identify COVID-19 cases and keep our neighbors safe."

Below is a list of locations where you can get tested for free in the Chattanooga region.

BLEDSOE COUNTY

- Bledsoe County Health Department at 1185 Alvin York Highway, Pikeville, Monday through Friday. Call 423-447-2149 for more information.

BRADLEY COUNTY

- Bradley County Health Department at 201 Dooley St. SE, Cleveland, Monday through Friday. Call 423-728-7020 for more information.

HAMILTON COUNTY

- The Hamilton County Department of Health's drive-thru testing site at 7460 Bonnyshire Drive now offers free testing for people regardless of symptoms or a physician's referral. Interested individuals are still required to call the Health Department at 423-209-8393 to schedule an appointment before arriving at the site.

- Testing in Hamilton County is also now available at Clinica Medicos at 1300 E. 23rd St. for citizens without a primary care provider, health insurance or personal vehicle. Interested individuals can call the clinic at 423-760-4000 to set up an appointment.

GRUNDY COUNTY

- Grundy County Health Department at 1372 Main St., Altamont, Monday through Friday. Call 931-692-3641 for more information.

MARION COUNTY

- Chattanooga State Community College - Kimball Site, 2100 Main St., Kimball, will offer free drive-thru testing from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 18. No appointment is needed.

- Marion County Health Department at 24 East 7Th St., Jasper, Monday through Friday. Call 423-942-2238 for more information.

MCMINN COUNTY

- Athens Regional Park in McMinn County, 101 Regional Park Drive, Athens, will host free drive-thru testing from noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 19. No appointment is needed.

- McMinn County Health Department at 393 County Road 554, Athens, Monday through Friday. Call 423-745-7431 for more information.

MEIGS COUNTY

- Meigs County Health Department at 389 River Road, Decatur, Monday through Friday. Call 423-334-5185 for more information.

POLK COUNTY

- Polk County Health Department at 2279 Parksville Road, Benton, Monday through Friday. Call 423-338-4533 for more information.

- Polk County Copper Basin Center at 840 Cherokee Trail, Copperhill, Monday through Friday. Call 423-496-3275 for more information.

RHEA COUNTY

- Rhea County Health Department at 344 Eagle Lane, Evensville, Monday through Friday. Call 423-775-7819 for more information.

SEQUATCHIE COUNTY

- Sequatchie County Health Department at 16939 Rankin Ave., Dunlap, Monday through Friday. Call 423-949-3619 for more information.

NORTH GEORGIA

In Georgia, individuals are still required to obtain either a referral from a doctor or from their local health department to be tested. Individuals can contact their local health department, which will set up an appointment for free testing for them at a drive-thru testing site in the area.

- 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.

Staff writers Elizabeth Fite and Patrick Filbin contributed to this story.

Contact Meghan Mangrum at mmangrum@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6592. Follow her on Twitter @memangrum.

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