More COVID-19 Testing being done in Georgia

Georgia ranks 13th among states and territories in the total number of tests, and for per capita testing, the state is 36th overall. In less than one week, Georgia moved up from 42nd in per capita testing to 36th. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp says the state still has work to do and will keep fighting to improve testing access and capacity.  “As I’ve said many times, the expansion of testing is key to our fight against COVID-19. For weeks, the state has worked closely with private labs and local health departments to address the need for more testing and ramp-up capacity in each region of Georgia. We have leveraged partnerships with well-respected companies – like CVS, Walmart, and Walgreens – to open more specimen collection sites and encourage symptomatic Georgians to get tested. Last week, we launched a new partnership with Augusta University Health System for free, statewide COVID-19 screening and testing by leveraging the power of telemedicine. Since then, Augusta University Health has conducted 2,059 screenings with its clinicians and referred 1,513 symptomatic Georgians – or 73 percent – for COVID-19 testing.  We have the tests; we have the physicians; we have the sites; and we have the bandwidth. We just need more Georgians to participate. Right now, all symptomatic Georgians can take advantage of this resource, and I am calling on anyone who is experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19 to act. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the following symptoms are consistent with coronavirus infection and may appear two to fourteen days after exposure: Fever, Cough, Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, Chills, Muscle pain, Headache, Sore throat, and Loss of taste or smell.  To get a free screening by an Augusta University Health System doctor, visit AugustaHealth.org, download AU Health ExpressCare on your smartphone, or call (706) 721-1852.”  If you meet the criteria for testing, staff will contact you to schedule a test at one of the state’s designated testing locations near your home.  In roughly 72 hours, you will be able to access your test results via a secure patient portal, and a medical provider will contact you directly if you are positive.