CDC spreads out across Fulton, DeKalb counties to test people for coronavirus antibodies

EAST POINT, Ga. — As coronavirus testing continues to ramp up across metro Atlanta, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed to Channel 2 Action News that it has also been visiting homes in other counties to test for antibodies.

At the Chapel Hill Church parking lot in south Fulton County, nearly 100 people drove up to a pop-up sample collection station, getting a coronavirus test as well as an antibody test.

“We’re offering free COVID-19 viral testing and antibody testing to anyone, uninsured or who received Medicare or Medicaid,” East Point Mayor Gina Holiday Ingraham said.

The mayor said the testing comes at a good time as East Point has started seeing an uptick in COVID-19 cases and has been one of the hot spots in south Fulton County.

“It’s definitely needed and very appreciated,” one woman, who did not identify herself, told Channel 2’s Tom Regan.

The CDC said it has also been doing mass antibody testing, fanning out to Fulton and DeKalb county neighborhoods to ask for random volunteers.

RELATED STORIES:

• Antibody tests touted as way to combat coronavirus, but are they accurate?
• Medical expert says ‘we could have another spike’ of coronavirus if people don’t wear masks
• Grocery stores limit sales of meat as shortages grow

“Out of the blue, we got this knock on the door. They said they were conducting a study,” metro mother Lea Dileo said.

Dileo told Regan that she and her husband provided a blood sample to be tested for COVID-19 antibodies.

“If it does turn out that I am immune, it's not going to mean I'm going to go carte blanche and walk everywhere I want,” Dileo said.

Michelle Miguelez and her husband also agreed to be tested.

“We are hoping to reunite with our elderly parents at some point. We want to know if we’re passive carries or what, that everything was OK," Miguelez said.

More than 500 people showed up Monday for a free coronavirus test in DeKalb County.

The DeKalb County's board of health director, Dr. Elizabeth Ford, told Regan they are focusing in on ZIP codes with the most cases.

“We figured if we targeted those areas, that would be one way of flattening the curve more dramatically," Ford said.

East Point city officials told Regan they will have free pop-up testing at four other locations this week.

CDC workers to go door-to-door looking for volunteers to test for coronavirus anitbodies Channel 2's Tom Regan reports.

© 2020 Cox Media Group