The Governor’s Coronavirus Task Force Community Outreach Committee, co-chaired by Bernice King and Leonardo Smith, has partnered with the Georgia Department of Public Health and DeKalb County Board of Public Health to establish free testing at a pop-up site at the House of Hope in Decatur this Monday, May 4, 3 to 7 p.m. The church is located at 4650 Flat Shoals Parkway, Decatur. If you or a loved one has COVID-19 symptoms or you believe you may have been exposed to COVID-19, this community-based site is your chance to find out if you have COVID-19. Pastors, local physicians, health ministers, and other community leaders are uniting to encourage residents to get tested. Testing is free. Insurance is not required. Anyone above the age of 18 can be screened for testing, including those who are asymptomatic but suspect they have come in contact with the virus. Those under 18 must be accompanied by a parent. FDA-approved COVID-19 tests will be administered. Testing is administered by healthcare professionals. Some medical staff may be members of the community where sites are located. You must pre-register by calling (404) 294-3700, then select Option 1, to schedule an appointment. Residents must be scheduled in order to enter the testing site location. Participants are emailed and sent a text of their scheduled testing time based on availability and site capacity. Area residents will be guided through the House of Hope parking lot and remain in the comfort of their cars for the test. For those who arrive on foot, a walk-up testing booth will be available with on-site screening. More on What to Expect in the Testing Process You must pre-register. Registration initiates screening criteria based on CDC guidelines to identify people eligible for free state testing. The criteria may change over time as public health needs related to COVID-19 response change. You may qualify for free testing even if you are asymptomatic but suspect you may have come into contact with the virus, or if you are asymptomatic but have underlying conditions including – but not limited to – high blood pressure, diabetes, or immune disorders. Getting tested provides vital data to public health agencies on how the virus is impacting your community, identifies potential hotspots, and allows you and others to feel confident at work and home while you follow public health guidelines on social distancing and related restrictions. |