GA Makes Coronavirus Testing Available To All Who Request It

GEORGIA — The Georgia Department of Public Health has reached its goal of testing 100,000 people in 10 days. More than 108,000 tests were processed since Commissioner Kathleen E. Toomey set the Department of Public Health goal last week.

“This is an important benchmark for Georgia as we work to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the state,” Toomey said. “Increased testing is critical to understanding where there are hot spots of infection and how best to mitigate them.”

Effective immediately, testing is available to all Georgians who request it, whether they have symptoms or not. There are more than 65 specimen point-of-collection sites throughout the state, with an additional 30 mobile specimen point of collection sites; locations and hours vary daily.

People who want to be tested can contact any Georgia public health department to schedule an appointment at a specimen point-of-collection site convenient to them. Contact information for local health departments can be found on the Department of Public Health homepage.

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During a news conference Thursday, Gov. Brian Kemp stressed that now is the time for Georgians to focus on moving the state forward, rather than letting differing opinions be a focal point in the fight against the coronavirus.

"We may not agree on certain policies or belong to the same political party, but we all want the same thing: a state where families are healthy, businesses are thriving, communities are flourishing and people are optimistic about tomorrow," Kemp said. "We want a Georgia where your ZIP code doesn't define your potential; where opportunity exists for all hardworking Georgians. Now more than ever, we must put our differences aside and put Georgians first. Georgia's families, workers and businesses need us. Their future, and ours, hangs in the balance."

Kemp said he and other state officials will continue to follow the data on new coronavirus cases and deaths in the state as they decide the next steps.

"If we see the numbers turning in a different direction than we'd like to see, then we'll take further action," he said. "The models aren't incorporating all the social distancing requirements the states have in their regulations. It's important for our citizens to know we're following a lot of things. The more we test, the more positive results we'll see, because we know there is community spread. Our goal in all of this was to flatten the curve, build the hospital bed capacity and the infrastructure that we needed, and give them time to get PPE supplies."

Kemp said officials continue to watch the numbers of cases and deaths from coronavirus in Georgia daily.

"Our numbers continue to look very good," Kemp said. "But that doesn't mean that we can quit doing what we're doing. I want to urge all Georgians to continue, when you're going to public places to wear your mask. Continue to avoid the large gatherings, and let's continue to drive the numbers down. It's important for Georgians to not get scared or panicked because somebody has a new model that says something. All the models are wrong, but they are good guidance for us, and we pay attention to them and our hospital bed capacity, which continues to stay in great shape."

See more:

• Gov. Kemp: Focus On Moving Forward, Not On Political Differences
• Gov. Kemp Visits GA Barbershop For A Cut; New Cases, More Deaths
• Black Coalition Requests Meeting With Gov. Kemp: Coronavirus
• Coronavirus GA: Jobless Claims Up 5,000% Since March