Photo By Cpl. Isaiah Matthews | Georgia Army National Guardsman Pfc. Mariah Foskey, of the Ft. Stewart-based 179th...... read more read more
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The Georgia National Guard, in partnership with the Georgia Department of Public Health and Augusta University, is assisting COVID-19 testing facilities in response to the public health state of emergency. Georgia National Guardsmen provide medical, logistical and security support to testing facilities located across the state in order to increase testing of COVID-19.
“One way that we can alleviate suffering is to help set conditions to safely get our state on a guided path towards normalcy,” said Maj. Gen. Thomas Carden, Adjutant General of the Georgia National Guard. “Testing is a function of alleviating that suffering.”
More than 600 Georgia National Guardsmen are supporting the testing mission. As of May 12, 2020, the Georgia National Guard has assisted Ga. DPH in testing over 28,900 Georgians statewide. Georgia Guardsmen intend to test up to 2,200 citizens per day.
“We want to run out of testing kits…,” said Brig. Gen. Randall Simmons, Commander of the Georgia Army National Guard and Joint Task Force Commander for Georgia’s COVID-19 Response. “We just need to get the tests out to as many people as possible to break down the barriers right now, to make it easier for folks to get a test.”
Georgia National Guard service members support the testing mission by staffing specimen point of collection (SPOC) sites, Ga. DPH sites and mobile testing teams (MTTs). There are currently nine SPOC sites, 16 Ga. DPH sites and 30 MTTs that provide mobile testing.
Mobile testing teams deploy to and test residents and employees of long-term care facilities, correctional institutions and government facilities. These teams slow the spread of COVID-19 by testing citizens that do not otherwise have the opportunity or ability to visit a testing site.
The stationary SPOC and Ga. DPH sites operate on an appointment and drive-up basis, and the testing is free. The procedure does not require any personal contact and visitors remain in their vehicles for the entire process.
All symptomatic individuals are eligible for COVID-19 testing at a Ga. DPH test sites with a referral from a healthcare provider or local public health department. Only individuals who have been evaluated by a healthcare provider or local health department and assigned a testing number will be seen at these drive-thru sites.
Visitors can arrive unannounced or without an appointment to any one of the nine Augusta University SPOCs. However, it is preferred to receive a screening via the AU Health ExpressCare app or the hotline phone number prior to arrival.
Georgia DPH testing, AU SPOC testing, and the AU Health ExpressCare app are all free services and are no expense to users.
| Date Taken: | 05.12.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 05.12.2020 09:11 |
| Story ID: | 369582 |
| Location: | ATLANTA, GA, US |
| Web Views: | 183 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Georgia Guard Assists in Increase of COVID-19 Testing Facilities, by SSG Tori Miller, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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