Georgia health officials are following strict guidelines on who gets tested for COVID-19 and who doesn’t. The governor and top state public health and safety officials Wednesday issued a joint statement saying tests are being prioritized for “our most vulnerable populations and the people responsible for their care and safety.”
According to federal and state health officials, people who do not have symptoms of COVID-19 do not need to be tested.
A drive-thru testing site opened March 18 in Northeast Georgia, but public health officials aren’t saying where. Only pre-screened patients with doctor’s orders for a test are being given the location. “For now there will only be one [public health] testing site per district,” says District 2 Public Health Information Officer Dave Palmer. “This site will serve all 13 counties in our district.”
District 2 includes the Northeast Georgia counties of Banks, Dawson, Forsyth, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, and White. Palmer says having a centralized testing site is meant to “help alleviate the burden on providers.” Still, finding transportation to the site may be an issue for some patients. “Please remember that healthcare providers can also collect specimens,” he says.
Limiting testing is expected to help “conserve precious medical supplies – like masks, shoe covers, and gowns – which are becoming increasingly difficult to find for healthcare facilities due to overuse, export bans, and hoarding,” officials say.
In issuing the statement, Gov. Brian Kemp, the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), and the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA) acknowledged many Georgians are “eager to be tested right now” but urged “we need to be mindful of our resources. We have to be in this fight together.”
Hospitals and health care professionals are screening patients to determine if they are at risk. The screening includes questions about travel and exposure to others who are sick. Those who meet the criteria may be tested. In addition to those patients, Georgia is prioritizing COVID-19 tests for the following:
- elderly
- those with chronic, underlying health conditions
- those who live in a long-term care facility like an assisted living facility or nursing home
- those serving on the front lines as a healthcare worker, first responder, long-term care facility staffer, or law enforcement
“The best way to serve the public is to protect the people who are protecting us in this battle,” officials say.
But what if you’re sick?
Most people who are mildly or moderately ill with “cold-like” symptoms do not need to be tested. The majority of people with COVID-19 can safely recover at home with self-isolation and symptomatic treatment. Diagnosis through laboratory testing does not change the care that they would receive, health officials say.
Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 and should always consult their healthcare provider if they are sick.
The CDC has issued revised guidance on COVID-19 recovery. The most important step in containing COVID-19 is that people who are sick with mild respiratory symptoms – fever and cough – should stay home and isolate themselves from others for at least seven days after their symptoms began or seventy-two hours after their fever has resolved and symptoms have improved. If you have been exposed to an individual with COVID-19, you must self-quarantine for fourteen days.
Correctly washing your hands and maintaining social distance by avoiding large gatherings and close contact with people who are sick are two of the easiest ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
All Georgians play a critical role in helping to slow the spread of COVID-19 by adhering to the following guidance:
- Practice social distancing by putting at least six feet between yourself and other people.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home if you are sick.
- Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water.
- Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
For continued updates on the COVID-19 situation as it develops, follow @GaDPH. @GeorgiaEMA, and @GovKemp on Twitter and @GaDPH, @GEMA.OHS, and @GovKemp on Facebook. For information about COVID-19, visit https://dph.georgia.gov/
