60,000 COVID test kits awaiting approval in Cobb County as ‘astronomical’ numbers climb

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — In her latest update, Cobb and Douglas Public Health Director Dr. Janet Memark addressed the COVID-19 surge in both counties.

“We are facing astronomical numbers of cases,” said Memark. “When you look at the charts, it’s off the chart how many cases that we have. It’s very indicative of omicron where it just goes and shoots straight up astronomically.”

The comments come a day after CDPH reopened Jim R. Miller Park as a testing site. The park served as a testing site for more than 10 months at the beginning of the pandemic.

“They anticipate to ramp up to 500 and 750 (tests a day) in the near future. That should be able to take a lot of volume,” said Memark.

Channel 2′s Chris Jose saw long lines at testing sites in Cobb and Douglas counties.

“The numbers are so high, that it’s been almost impossible to get in and get tested at places,” said Octavia Bruce. Bruce got tested at Deer Lick Park. “I did get the chills, the fever, the headache, the coughing.”

On Thursday, Jose obtained a proposal from Cobb’s Emergency Management Agency.

Cobb EMA wants the county to use its remaining CARES funding — $816,480 — to purchase 60,480 at-home COVID-19 test kits.

“If we continue to keep burdening our existing resources, we’re just creating a bigger problem,” said Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid. “As people are rushing out to these sites, they’re putting an intense burden on our facilities including our roadways.”

The board of commissioners will vote next Tuesday. If approved, Cupid said the first round of at-home test kits will arrive late next week. She told Jose the county is working on a distribution plan with the first round potentially going out on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

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“The MLK holiday, I think, provides a significant opportunity and service to our community to serve in this capacity,” said Cupid.

Cupid added there’s a big focus on Cobb’s underprivileged areas.

“Certainly, equity is always an issue in making sure we provide access to everyone in a way that is effective,” said Cupid. “To be able to provide these tests in the south Cobb area, in their community, helps them not to have access as a barrier to getting the test.”

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