North Central Health District

North Central Health District Providing COVID-19 Test at all 13 District County Health Departments

Posted May 1, 2020 by Michael Hokanson

Two Sites Open Daily, Others Open Select Days

North Central Health District’s (NCHD) is expanding COVID-19 testing to all 13 central Georgia counties within the district. Beginning Sunday, May 3, NCHD’s Specimen Point of Collection (SPOC) sites will open at each of the 13 county health departments.

Houston and Macon-Bibb County Health Department SPOCs will operate seven days each week while the other 11 county SPOCs will operate on select days of the week.

Anyone in need of testing through these sites must call the Testing Line at 1-844-987-0099 for screening and referral. SPOC sites are only open to individuals with scheduled appointments. Public health COVID-19 testing has been expanded so any person experiencing symptoms of the illness qualifies for a free test. The updated list of COVID-19 symptoms includes:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Headache
• Muscle pain
• Chills
• Repeated shaking with chills
• Sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell

NCHD currently operates five SPOC sites throughout the district. As of April 30, these sites collected 1653 samples for COVID-19 testing since the first site began operations on March 18. With the expanded symptoms and the new schedule for SPOC sites in all 13 counties, NCHD is hoping every district resident takes advantage of testing.

“There are testing gaps in our district, especially in the rural counties where local healthcare providers are limited,” said Judy McChargue, NCHD Nursing Director. “Our new schedule for testing sites will help us fill those gaps and get a more accurate picture of how prevalent COVID-19 is throughout all of our counties. Everyone with symptoms can get tested for free through our sites, they just need to call the testing line and get a referral.”

As more businesses open for clients and more people return to regular activities, it is important for everyone to take steps to protect themselves and others from COVID-19:

• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water a not available, us an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid touching your nose, eyes and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are ill.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough and sneeze with a tissue, then dispose of the tissue. If a tissue is not available, use the inside of your elbow to cover yourself.
• Regularly clean and disinfect high-touch objects and surfaces.
• Wear cloth face coverings in places where maintaining a six-foot distance from others is difficult.

“While testing can help us see how COVID-19 is impacting our district, it takes actions from everyone to help reduce the spread of the illness,” said McChargue. “The only way we can effectively fight against this virus is to change our habits to protect not only ourselves, but one another as well.”

For more information about the COVID-19, including cases numbers, testing information and guidance, visit NCHD52.org/coronavirus, or use the Georgia COVID-19 Hotline by calling 844-442-2681.