Colquitt County adds additional COVID testing days

MOULTRIE — The Colquitt County Health Department has added additional COVID-19 testing opportunities for teachers, students and residents in the community, the Southwest Public Health District announced.

Due to an increase in COVID-19 cases among students in Colquitt County public schools, which currently has many students on a 14-day quarantine, the additional testing days were announced Friday in a news release. Free testing will be available at the Colquitt Health Department from 8-11 a.m. Saturday, 2-4 p.m. Monday, 1-3 p.m. Tuesday, 8:30-10:30 a.m. Thursday and 2-4 p.m. Friday.

Parents are encouraged to have children tested to help curb the spread of the disease in the community, Dr. Charles Ruis, the Southwest Health District’s health director, said, adding that getting tested is easy and the resulting positive and negative results are valid.

Ruis said that older people are being more cautious currently, and younger people tend to practice social distancing less often, a task that becomes even more challenging with in-person instruction in session.

“If we could get symptomatic people to stay at home, isolate properly, and consult with their physician, that would pay huge dividends,” Ruis said. “Beyond that, wearing masks, hand-washing, and staying 6 feet apart can reduce the spread.”

DCH records show that in the last 12 days of September, Colquitt schools had four staff members and five students test positive for the virus. In the first 12 days of October, school records show 16 staff members and 19 students tested positive.

Ruis said that older people are being more cautious currently, and younger people tend to practice social distancing less often, a task that becomes even more challenging with in-person instruction in session.

The health director said that individuals who are not showing symptoms can also infect others.

“If those more vulnerable to the disease go out in public and get infected, they are more likely to experience a more serious case of the disease and are more susceptible to death than their younger, healthier counterparts,” he said.

To register for COVID-19 testing by smartphone, tablet, or computer, visit www.covid19.dph.ga.gov. That option is available 24 hours a day. Follow the simple instructions to schedule an appointment, choosing a preferred location, date and time. In addition, the appointment hotline is still available Monday through Saturday at (229) 352-6567.

For more information about COVID-19, visit dph.georgia.gov/novelcoronavirus or cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

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