A major COVID-19 testing site has moved from the Mitchell Bridge Road fire station to Holland Park to accommodate increased demand for testing due to the Omicron variant surge.
Holland Park is located at 250 Vincent Drive, just off of Newton Bridge Road. Hours are 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. p.m. on Mondays, 8:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 8 a.m.–12 p.m. on Saturdays.
The testing site is a partnership between Athens-Clarke County and the Northeast Health District and is operated by Mako Medical.
There is no cost for testing regardless of insurance status, although insurance information will be requested to bill the company. Pre-registration is encouraged to reduce wait times.
Other testing sites can be found at the Georgia Department of Public Health website.
COVID-19 cases have risen 20-fold in the past month, with a seven-day rolling average of 147 cases per day in Athens as of Dec. 31, the last day DPH released data.
DPH recommends that everyone over 5 years of age be vaccinated, and that everyone over 18 who is already vaccinated receive a booster shot.
“Vaccines slow the spread of COVID-19, reduce the likelihood of new variants, and are highly effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death,” according to DPH. “With high levels of community transmission, wearing a mask in indoor public settings is also recommended, even for individuals who are fully vaccinated.”
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