Local providers are being overwhelmed with citizens wanting a COVID test. Traffic continues to back up through downtown at the Southeast Health District's FREE COVID testing partner Mako Medical COVID PCR testing site.
GC reached out to some local providers and urgent cares who all report a very high demand for testing. Some places do not have testing availability until Friday. They are all reporting challenges in getting testing supplies and keeping staff healthy.
In addition to doing COVID testing, providers are giving vaccines and treating huge numbers of sick individuals.
FREE PCR COVID TESTING:
DPH downtown Free testing is available first come Monday Through Friday, 8 AM to 3 PM. However you must be preregistered to get a COVID test. You may call 1-855-473-4374, and a DPH agent will assist you with registration. You can also register online by clicking here.
Once you are registered you can go to the testing site located in the parking lot located on the East Side of Railroad Street between Hill St and Courtland Street under a white drive thru tent.
This is a PCR test which takes 3 to 5 days to get the results.
Rapid Antigen COVID Testing:
All urgent cares and most doctors officies and pharmacies have rapid testing capability. However these are not free. Insurance will cover the test if it is performed in a doctors office or urgent care.
Insurance will not pay for test done in a pharmacy. Test begin at $75. You get the results in about 15 minutes for rapid tests.
EGRMC IS NOT DOING COIVD TESTING AT THE HOSPITAL OR IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
Bulloch COVID numbers
The Georgia Department of Health is reporting 707 COVID positive cases in one week for Bulloch. This compares totals from last Monday, August 9 through Monday, August 16.
EGRMC has 51 COVID patients in the hospital. 15 are sick enough to require ventilators.
The vast number of COVID patients who are hospitalized are unvaccinated. This surge could have been defeated early with citizens getting a vaccine. But now, healthcare, EMS and front line workers are exhausted and overwhelmed. If you want this to end, the best way to help now is to wear a mask, especially indoors and GET VACCINATED.
95% of ALL COVID patients at EGRMC are NOT VACCINATED
Majority of Georgia Hospitalizations and Deaths during the Unvaccinated Surge are Unvaccinated
Bulloch County EMS asking that you only utilize EMS in a true emergency. Their resources continues being stretched to the limit. PLEASE UTILIZE 911 AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES FOR EMERGENCIES ONLY.
EXPECT LONG WAIT TIMES AT ALL AREA EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS AND URGENT CARE. ONE TO THREE HOUR WAIT TIMES NOW DUE TO SURGE.
PLEASE DO NOT GO TO EGRMC E.D. FOR COVID TESTING.
East Georgia Regional Medical Center (EGRMC) in Statesboro is asking for citizens to NOT go to the E.D. for COVID testing. They are conserving testing supplies for their patients. COVID testing options are listed below in this report.
Grice Connect is receiving reports of over three hour wait times at area E.D.'s and over one hour wait times at Urgent cares.
Region J accounts for 13 hospitals from Savannah to Brunswick. See full list below.
All schools (including colleges) reported 141 new COVID cases last week in Bulloch County.
Vaccinated should now wear mask inside
In areas with substantial and high transmission (which includes Bulloch County https://dph.georgia.gov/county-indicator-reports), the CDC recommends that everyone (including fully vaccinated individuals) wear a mask in public indoor settings to help prevent spread of COVID-19 and the Delta variant.
FREE COVID TESTING DOWNTOWN STATESBORO
The Southeast Health District has expanded FREE COVID-19 testing at the downtown Statesboro location to daily testing. The testing location is in the parking lot located on the East Side of Railroad Street between Hill St and Courtland Street under a white drive thru tent.
Test are available now Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., Last Saturday of the month from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.
To schedule an appointment at the downtown COVID-19 testing site, you may call 1-855-473-4374, and a DPH agent will assist you. You can also schedule an appointment online by clicking here.
FREE and CONFIDENTIAL VACCINES
Grice Connect, due to a large request for information on how and where to get vaccines, has coordinated with two local pharmacies to give FREE – CONFIDENTIAL – SAFE vaccines.
With COVID-19 numbers climbing, hospitalizations, ICU and Vent patients nearing capacity, now is time to get vaccinated.
All you have to do is walk up and tell them Grice Connect sent you.
FREE – CONFIDENTIAL – SAFE COVID-19 VACCINE lOCATIONS
Forest Heights Pharmacy – 4439 Country Club Road, Statesboro, GA 30458 – 912-489-7979
Moderna (2 shots) and Johnson and Johnson (1 shot and done) 8:30 am to 6 pm
McCook’s Pharmacy – 23630 US-80, Statesboro, GA 30461 – 912-764-2223
- Moderna (2 shots) 9:00 am to 6 pm
- Pfizer (2 shots – 12 and up) 12 pm to 6 pm
CLICK HERE FOR FULL LIST OF FREE VACCINE LOCATIONS - Please get vaccinated today
About This Report:
A special thanks to Dr. Frank Davis, M.D. F.A.C.S, a retired trauma surgeon who lives in Bulloch County. He has worked closely with the Grice Connect team to design the COVID-19 dashboard and provide brief interpretation of the data. You will be seeing and hearing more from Dr. Davis as an important member of the GC team. We will continue to update and adapt the data in this report to make it relevant. We have shifted our emphasis to vaccinations, while continuing to provide daily Coroncavirus impact.
Thanks for supporting and following Grice Connect.
