CVS to open test sites, state to send remdesivir to hospitals and more COVID-19 news

Starting on Friday, CVS will open 23 testing sites in the state of Georgia including one in Warner Robins and one in Macon according to a news release.

These new sites will utilize self-swab tests. The 23 test sites are part of nearly 350 locations across 14 different states that CVS will open testing sites in. The test sites will serve communities with the greatest need for support, as measured by the CDC’s Social Vulnerability Index.

The Macon location will be at 1544 Bass Road. The Warner Robins location will be at 3001 Richard B. Russell Parkway.

Second round of remdesivir heading to Georgia hospitals

The Georgia Department of Health is distributing a second round of the drug remdesivir to 29 hospitals in the state, which will treat more than 300 patients, according to a release.

The antiviral medication was provided to Georgia by the federal government. According to DPH, remdesivir has been found to shorten the duration of COVID-19 for individuals treated in hospitals. A third shipment is expected Friday.

Thousands of the vials will be sent to more than two dozen hospitals in the Navicent, Northside, Piedmont and WellStar health systems.

Middle Georgia coronavirus case counts

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported 1,716 positive COVID-19 cases in Middle Georgia in its 1 p.m. update Thursday, an increase of 26 since 1 p.m. Wednesday.

Bibb County leads the area with 413 total cases and has 19 deaths, the most in Middle Georgia.

State health officials have not provided a breakdown of the residents tested for COVID-19 in each county. The state is also not tracking the number of people who have recovered from COVID-19.

Here’s a breakdown of cases and deaths by county:

At 1 p.m., the state of Georgia reported 40,405 confirmed cases and 1,754 deaths, with 73 of those in Middle Georgia.

For the full update from the state of Georgia click here.