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Written by: Jennifer King, Public Information Officer

Category: Press Room

North GA - Public health officials in North Georgia encourage residents to spread holiday cheer instead of the COVID-19 virus this holiday season. Along with vaccination, the best way to prevent sharing the virus with others is to test for COVID-19 if symptomatic before going to holiday gatherings with family or larger crowds.

The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is offering FREE COVID-19 PCR testing at TestAndGo Kiosks placed in communities across Georgia that are open 24-7. The kiosk in the North Georgia Health District is located at the Piedmont Community Center, 824 Industrial Boulevard, Ellijay, GA 30540.

After completing a brief registration form, the kiosks dispense a test kit that includes a nasal swab, similar to other at-home tests, and instructions on collecting the specimen. Once the specimen is collected, it is safely packaged back into the kit and placed in the kiosk. The specimens are picked up daily and sent to an accredited lab for PCR testing.

Created: 15 December 2023

Last Updated: 15 December 2023

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Written by: Jennifer King, Public Information Officer

Category: Press Room

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National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) is an annual observance in December to remind everyone 6 months and older that there’s still time to get vaccinated against flu. Vaccination is particularly important for people who are at higher risk of developing serious flu complications, including pregnant people and young children. Millions of children get sick with flu every year, and thousands will be hospitalized as a result. Pregnant people also are at higher risk of developing serious flu complications.

Since flu viruses are constantly changing and protection from vaccination decreases over time, getting a flu vaccine every year is the best way to reduce your risk from flu. A ​flu vaccine is the only vaccine that protects against flu and has been shown to reduce the risk of flu illness, hospitalization, and death.

This week is meant to remind people that there is still time to benefit from the first and most important action in preventing flu illness and potentially serious flu complications: get a flu vaccine today. Flu vaccines are readily available at health departments in the North Georgia Health District, including Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens, and Whitfield counties. NO appointment is needed, and flu vaccine is either NO or Low cost to individuals, depending on their healthcare coverage.

Learn more about National Influenza Vaccination Week and share the information with loved ones and friends via tools provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at www.cdc.gov/flu/resource-center/nivw/index.htm. Together, we can use NIVW as a nationwide call to action to encourage everyone 6 months and older to get their annual flu vaccine, especially pregnant people, young children, and others at higher risk. The more people vaccinated against flu, the more people are protected from flu.

Created: 01 December 2023

Last Updated: 11 December 2023

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Written by: Jennifer King, Public Information Officer

Category: Press Room

Winter Weather Preparedness Week

December 4-8 is recognized as Winter Weather Preparedness Week this year in Georgia. In conjunction with the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency and its partnership with the National Weather Service, and along with many of our core local partners, we are devoting each day this week to highlight a specific winter weather-related topic:

Monday, Dec. 4: Winter Weather in Georgia  -- learn about various winter weather hazards that can impact the state of Georgia