- Written by Jennifer King
- Category: Media Releases
NORTH GA – County public health departments within the North Georgia Health District will conduct two separate pop-up COVID-19 testing sites, respectively, on Wednesday and Thursday of next week.
The two pop-up COVID-19 testing sites, times and locations are:
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- Pickens County: Wednesday, May 6th, 9 A.M. – 11 A.M., Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 1036 North Main Street, Jasper, GA 30143
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- Murray County: Thursday, May 7th, 9 A.M. – 11 A.M., Murray County Parks and Recreation Department, 651 Hyden Tyler Road, Chatsworth, GA 30705
COVID-19 testing is free, but people who meet the criteria for testing must register in advance by calling 1-888-881-1474.
People who are eligible for testing include:
- Anyone who has COVID-19 symptoms, such as:
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- Fever
- Felt feverish
- Runny nose
- Cough
- Muscle aches
- Chills
- Sore throat
- Nausea or vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Loss of taste
- Loss of smell
- Headache
- Shortness of breath
- Diarrhea
- Other
- Anyone who does or does not have COVID-19 symptoms and is also one of the following:
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- Health care worker
- First responder
- Law enforcement officer
- Resident or worker in a long-term care facility
- Resident or worker in a congregate setting
- Critical infrastructure worker, such as grocery store and utility workers, truck drivers, airline crew members, etc.
“We have assisted in the free testing of hundreds of residents at three public health drive-thru sites in Cherokee, Gilmer and Whitfield counties,” said Dr. Zachary Taylor, health district director. “But there are people who have barriers for getting COVID-19 testing, such as lack of transportation, so we want to remove those barriers and make it easier for as many people as possible to be tested.”
More information about COVID-19 and testing in Georgia can be found at bit.ly/COVID-Updates-NorthGA.
- Hits: 7320
- Written by Jennifer King
- Category: Media Releases
DALTON, Ga – UPDATE: Due to the public health state of emergency surrounding COVID-19 and the need to enhance a more concerted response, including COVID-19 testing, suspension of nursing services at public health departments in the North Georgia Health District now includes Gilmer, Murray and Pickens counties until further notice. Public health clients who need essential services, may call the county health department in Blue Ridge (706-632-3023), Canton (770-345-7371) or Dalton (706-279-9600) for an appointment.
Essential services currently offered at these health departments include:
- STD/HIV testing
- Newborn immunizations
- Tdap vaccinations for parents and grandparents of newborns
- Hepatitis A vaccinations
- *WIC vouchers
*WIC services will continue to be available by phone at all county health departments in the North Georgia Health District, including the three counties where nursing services are suspended. Call (706) 370-4700.
We apologize for this inconvenience; however, it is a necessary measure at this time.
Learn more about our FREE COVID-19 testing in Cherokee, Gilmer and Whitfield counties, along with who is being tested and how to call HERE. Get information about COVID-19 testing statewide HERE.
For the latest COVID-19 recommendations from the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), log onto our COVID-19 Information for North Georgians page HERE.
- Hits: 10672
- Written by Jennifer King
- Category: Media Releases
DALTON, Ga. – The North Georgia Health District has received notice that residents in Cherokee and Pickens counties, who had previously been listed in the Georgia Department of Public Health COVID-19 Daily Status Report as confirmed cases, have now sadly passed away.
The Cherokee County resident was a female in her 60s, and the Pickens County resident was a female in her 70s. Both were hospitalized at time of death with underlying health conditions.
These are the first deaths in the North Georgia Health District of residents who had been confirmed as being infected with COVID-19. The Health District is comprised of Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield counties.
At the time of this announcement, county-by-county numbers of confirmed cases so far in the Health District included:
- Cherokee County: 46 (including the death)
- Fannin: 2
- Pickens: 4 (including the death)
- Whitfield: 6
The Health District works closely with Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) epidemiology to identify close contacts of all confirmed cases and provide the appropriate recommendations.
How the public can help:
- Do not go to the emergency room unless essential. Emergency rooms need to be able to serve those with the most critical needs.
- North Georgia Health District is coordinating with healthcare providers to determine if testing requests meet criteria for testing.
- If you have symptoms like cough, fever, or other respiratory problems, call your doctor first.
- Stay home when sick.
- Practice thorough personal hygiene habits, including handwashing, coughing into tissue or elbow, avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth.
- Avoid large gatherings of more than 10 people and maintain social distancing by keeping at least 6 feet away from others
- Stay informed. Information is changing frequently. Check the Health District’s website (http://bit.ly/COVID19-Updates-NorthGA) or follow us on social media.
As we anticipate more cases, the North Georgia Health District will not issue press releases for each individual case. Updates will be posted on the Georgia Department of Public Health COVID-19 Daily Status Report at https://dph.georgia.gov/covid-19-daily-status-report at 12 PM and 7 PM and will be shared on the Health District’s social media pages on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
- Hits: 14462
- Written by Jennifer King
- Category: Media Releases
North GA – In order to protect our clients, health department staff, residents and communities and to better shift our focus on our coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic response, the North Georgia Health District is limiting services to only the most crucial public health services.
At all public health departments in *Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield counties, these are the services that are currently offered until further notice:
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- Birth Control
- STD/HIV testing
- Immunizations for children 5 years of age and under
- Tdap vaccinations
- Hepatitis A vaccinations
- Medicaid enrollment for women’s health and pregnancy
- WIC vouchers
*The Woodstock health department clinic will only provide Vital Records services at this time.
Protective measures in place at our county health departments, include:
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- Residents are urged to make an appointment for services.
- Visitors will be screened at health department entrances for symptoms of COVID-19, including fever or cough, or if they have tested positive for the virus.
- To help limit the number of people entering the health department and maintain social distancing, adult clients are asked to enter the health department alone, instructing any other adults or older teens who may be accompanying them to remain outside or in their vehicle.
- Children who are clients are to be accompanied by one adult.
These measures are in place for the safety of our clients, health department staff, residents and communities.
Local county health departments in North Georgia may be reached at the following numbers:
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- Cherokee: Canton (770) 345-7371 Woodstock: (770) 928-0133
- Fannin (706) 632-3023
- Gilmer (706) 635-4363
- Murray (706) 695-4585
- Pickens (706) 253-2821
- Whitfield (706) 279-9600
We regret this inconvenience to the public, but it is part of the North Georgia Health District effort to protect our communities as we respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For easy access to the latest COVID-19 updates and recommendations from both the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), click on our COVID-19 Information for North Georgians page.
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