Drive-thru coronavirus testing underway for high-risk people in Cobb

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Drive-up testing for coronavirus is now available in Cobb County. Doctors will primarily screen “high risk” individuals at Jim Miller Park in Cobb County.

Those are the people who, if they have the virus, could be dramatically impacted.

As of Wednesday, there were 197 confirmed coronavirus cases in Georgia and four deaths.

[RELATED: Special section on the latest on coronavirus in Georgia]

The drive-thru testing started Wednesday in the park’s outdoor arena and will pick up again Thursday. But it is not open to everyone.

All who went Wednesday had to be prequalified and doctors only had about 50 test kits.

Wearing face shields, and hazmat suits, medical personnel asked drivers to roll down their windows and tilt back their heads for a nasal or throat swab.

[RELATED: Emory doctor stresses seriousness of following guidelines in fight against coronavirus]

The priority was those on the front lines of healthcare, first responders, who could put many more at risk if they are infected.

“Those kind of people include home healthcare workers, people who work in vulnerable populations, nursing homes and public safety as well,” Dr. Janet Memark, public health director for Cobb and Douglas counties, said.

Memark said that with so few test kits available, those seeking a test must first get a doctor's referral.

That information is then passed on to state health officials.

“The state will take a look at that. If your risk is high, you will be assigned a PUI, or a person under investigation number,” Memark said. “Then, based on our capacity, we will reach out to you to get tested."

The goal is to have the same kind of drive-thru coronavirus test station available in all 18 health districts across Georgia. The holdup is a nationwide shortage of test kits.

This week, Gov. Brian Kemp said he expects the state's testing capacity to double to 200 tests per day by the end of the week.

[Atlanta Braves create $1 million relief fund to help ballpark workers during coronavirus outbreak]

In the meantime, officials are asking people for patience.

“The expectation is that you can go somewhere and be tested, which is unrealistic, because we don’t have the test kits,” Cobb County Commission Chairman Mike Boyce said.

We spoke to a resident who wishes it could be easier to find.

“I’d like to be able to go be tested, to find out if I have (the coronavirus),” Brenda Hill said.

The swab samples collected at the park will be sent to the state health department or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to see if they come back positive or negative for COVID-19.

It is not clear how quickly those tests will be turned around.

© 2020 Cox Media Group