COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Georgia’s top public health doctor is urging people to get a flu shut. The new push comes as the number of people getting tested for coronavirus is dropping.
Channel 2′s Chris Jose spoke with Georgia Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Kathleen Toomey in a 1-on-1 interview Tuesday.
“This is probably the most important year to be vaccinated because of the potential for confusion of the flu and we also want to keep people flu free,” Toomey said.
Jose also asked her about the data showing case rates are going down. Testing numbers are also going down.
Toomey said it’s possible news coverage of long wait times and a backlog of test results may have discouraged people to take a test.
She said the state has worked out those issues.
“There’s plenty, plenty of capacity available throughout the state,” she said.
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Lawanda Holloway got tested in DeKalb County and still waiting for her results.
“It’s been very frustrating,” patient Lawanda Holloway said.
Toomey has heard similar complaints.
“It’s combination of feeling, ’Why bother? It’s not going to come back in time,’” Toomey said.
According to Georgia’s daily COVID-19 status report, testing peaked on July 24th with more than 46,000 tests that day. One graph shows that testing dropped in August.
Toomey told Jose it’s also possible people are COVID-19 weary and have let their guard down.
“I think all of those factors together have helped lead to this decline in testing,” she said.
Toomey hopes people, especially those with symptoms, will get tested. She’s also urging people to wear a mask and social distance as we approach the Labor Day weekend.
Cox Media Group
