Drive-thru coronavirus testing site to open up in Rockdale County

ROCKDALE COUNTY, Ga. — On Thursday, the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers will transform into a drive-thru testing site for people who think they have symptoms of COVID-19.

"There’s a lot of anxiety from patients who are ill and they want to know if they’re ill due to COVID-19," said Dr. Audrey Arona, the CEO and heath director for Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale counties.

"We are planning to do 300 tests on Thursday at the horse barn, and we'll have four lanes. We’ve been planning this to make it very efficient," she said.

Thursday's drive-thru testing is for folks who live in Newton and Rockdale counties. But plans are in the works for a similar event in Gwinnett County.

RELATED STORIES:

• DeKalb County schools will end academic year earlier than planned
• Stimulus checks: When will you get the payment and how much will it be?
• Atlanta TSA officer dies of coronavirus

"We're planning to open one in Gwinnett County, in one of the parking decks at the Infinite Energy Center, and we’re looking, if we can keep our test kit supply, we’d like to supply a place for testing five days a week," Arona said.

If you need a test, it’s free.

And you'll never have to get out of your car. You should be in and out in 15 minutes, and you'll get your test results in less than 48 hours. But, you have to make an appointment ahead of time. Don't just show up.

"We only want to test the ill population. To test patients without symptoms doesn’t really make sense because if they’re negative today, next week they could be positive," Arona said.

You don’t need a doctor’s referral.

To make an appointment, call 770-513-5631 or visit www.gnrhealth.com/covid-19-info

Gov. Kemp: Testing capacity for coronavirus 'unacceptable,' expands screening criteria Kemp ordered the expansion of criteria for screening to include asymptomatic people who have had direct contact with coronavirus patients and workers in critical infrastructure.

© 2020 Cox Media Group