Good Evening,
I just wanted to give you all a quick update on testing in Dooly and give a warning. We are seeing a little rise in cases and I am afraid it’s due to people thinking this virus is gone. It is not. If people choose to ignore what has been working and go by what they learn on Facebook University we will be right back where we were a little over a month ago. It’s not hard to follow the guidelines. They work. There is scientific proof that it works.
We had planned on traveling to different areas of the county this week and set up drive thru testing but because of the weather we have just set up outside the health department. We are testing all day in front of the health department and you don’t have to have an appointment. We will be traveling to different sites in the coming week if the weather permits so people can get to a testing site and be tested if they wish to do so.
WE HAVE 24 HOUR RETURN ON TEST RESULTS RIGHT NOW AND I HAVE PLENTY OF TEST KITS FROM THIS LAB
Please let everyone know that they can come get tested. We are not tracking people and stealing their contacts off of social media. That post being posted by people has nothing to do with DPH. We do have a texting system but you give consent and it’s just an easier way for us to monitor contacts of a known positive COVID 19 Case, send them information needed so they quarantine, get tested, and/or seek treatment if needed. It is us trying to stop the spread of this virus. I have sent the Facebook post to our district so they can look into this supposed app. We only care about the positives and those in direct contact to the positive so we can keep them from exposing others to the virus. I can’t speak for other facilities doing testing but DPH isn’t doing this. Like with all things, there will be scams. Just read paperwork and ask questions if you are tested anywhere besides DPH. DPH are the ones doing the contact tracing in our area and should be the ones doing it throughout the state of Georgia but like I said, ask questions and read carefully before doing anything or signing anything. I have said this over and over but I will say it again…..take responsibility for your own health and safety. If it doesn’t seem right, it probably isn’t. Call me. I will be happy to help you. If I don’t know the answer, I’ll find out the answer.
We tested 30 today and those are pending. Like I said, we are seeing results now in less than 24 hours with the lab we are using. We will be in front of the Health Department tomorrow as long as it’s not pouring rain. No appointment is required this time. We are still not testing those who have already tested positive but anyone else can be tested if they would like to. We had a good many symptomatic people today. I had not been seeing that in the last couple of weeks. Guys please make sure you are asking your employees, family, and friends to follow the guidelines we have been pushing. Everyone should know them by heart by now. It works. It was working.
Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, and God Bless,
Cyndi Mercer, RN, PHN
County Nurse Manager
Dooly County Health Department
204 West Union Street
Vienna, Ga. 31092