Free Coronavirus Testing Offered Tuesday In Milton

MILTON, GA — People from Milton and the surrounding area can get free, fast, drive-thru COVID-19 tests on Tuesday in the heart of the city's Deerfield district.

The tests, organized by the Fulton County Board of Health and Atlanta Fulton County Emergency Management Agency, will be offered between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Tuesday in Stonecreek Church's parking lot at 13540 Highway 9.

People will stay in their vehicle for the tests, which should take 5 to 10 minutes (not including possible wait times). Starting at 4 p.m. Monday, appointments can be made in advance by texting "COVID" to 678-802-9624, then selecting "Stonecreek" as the testing location. (There won't be a "Stonecreek" option until that time.)

While such advance notice is preferred, you can also drive up Tuesday without one, register on site, and get tested.

Unlike at some points earlier in this pandemic, these tests are open to anyone. You don't have to be symptomatic or have been exposed to someone you know has COVID-19. Instead, tests will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis to all comers. Results should come back within a few days.

People, who are encouraged to wear masks, will provide only basic information, which will be kept confidential, so they can get find out whether or not they've tested positive for COVID-19. While no precise timetable is guaranteed, results at similar, nearby sites recently have been coming back with 24 to 48 hours.

According to the Fulton County Board of Health Epidemiology Report released on Wednesday, Milton has had 632 documented positive COVID-19 cases - up 20 from the previous report issued five days prior. Many of those cluster in the Deerfield area, which is also where Milton's population is most concentrated.

While incidences of this coronavirus have slowed in Fulton County, along with hospitalizations and deaths, COVID-19 remains very much present in the community. Both the state of Georgia and City of Milton remain under states of emergency because of the continued threat.

A non-profit organization called CORE, which has tested over 1.5 million people nationwide, will administer the tests on Fulton County's behalf. The City of Milton - which has been working with county agencies to offer this valuable opportunity to residents - will provide support, as needed, for traffic management and more on Tuesday.