As part of Governor Kemp's call for increased COVID-19 testing, health departments across the state are beginning right away to expand testing criteria.
Public Information Officer Dave Palmer with District 2 Public Health in North Georgia said the new guidelines will allow for testing of certain people who might have been exposed to COVID-19, but who are not exhibiting symptoms of the illness. That includes healthcare workers, first responders and other critical infrastructure workers who might have been exposed to the virus.
"[For example], if we have a first responder - let's say an EMS worker - and they transport someone who tests positive for COVID-19, and the EMS worker is not showing symptoms, but because he or she was exposed to someone who was positive for COVID-19, they can now be tested," Palmer said.
Additionally, any resident of a nursing home or other group-living facility where there's an outbreak of COVID-19 can now be tested even though that resident may have no symptoms.
In new information released Wednesday, April 15, the Georgia Department of Public Health said all symptomatic individuals will now be eligible for COVID-19 testing; however, healthcare workers, first responders, law enforcement and long-term care facility residents and staff will have priority when it comes to testing.
Palmer said anyone who is eligible for testing still needs to call the public health office rather than simply showing up.
"They need to call the health department, the nurse there will screen their call, ask them a series of questions and determine if they need testing," Palmer said. "They'll turn that [information] in to our scheduler, they will schedule an appointment, give them a number and they can go to the testing site and have the specimen collected."
The specimen is then sent to a lab for analysis.
Palmer said he was unsure how many more tests the local district will receive, but he said he hoped they might be able to keep some test kits in inventory rather than depleting supplies immediately.
COVID-19 testing at a glance:
- Hospitalized patients
- All people with symptoms are eligible for testing, but there is a priority list for testing:
- Healthcare workers, first responders, and other critical infrastructure workers
- Persons residing in long-term care facilities or other group residential settings
- Persons 65 years of age and older
- Patients with underlying medical conditions
- Household members or care givers of any of the groups above
- Persons with close contact with a known COVID-19 case
- The following people without symptoms will also be tested as capacity allows:
- Healthcare workers, first responders, and other critical infrastructure workers that have been exposed to COVID-19
- Residents of a long-term care facility or other group residential setting experiencing an outbreak of COVID-19
If you feel that you meet any of these conditions, follow these three simple steps:
- Call your local health department and ask to speak to a nurse about COVID-19 testing.
- The nurse will review your situation and submit your information for verification.
- Public health will call you back to arrange an appointment at the site nearest to you.
Phone numbers for offices within District 2 Public Health in North Georgia:
- Banks County Health Department 706-677-2296
- Dawson County Health Department 706-265-2611
- Forsyth County Health Department 770-781-6900
- Franklin County Health Department 706-384-5575
- Habersham County Health Department 706-778-7156
- Hall County Health Department 770-531-5600
- Hart County Health Department 706-376-5117
- Lumpkin County Health Department 706-867-2727
- Rabun County Health Department 706-212-0289
- Stephens County Health Department 706-282-4507
- Towns County Health Department 706-896-2265
- Union County Health Department 706-745-6292
- White County Health Department 706-865-2191
