Free drive-through COVID-19 testing available Saturday in Macon. Here are the details

Maconites can receive a free COVID-19 test at a drive-through testing event on Saturday in Bibb County.

The Community Church of God and the Macon Community Empowerment Center have partnered for a second drive-through testing event this week, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Beulahland Bible Baptist Church (1010 Newberg Ave. in Macon).

Pastor Jason E. McClendon, the senior pastor of Community Church of God in Macon, wanted to make sure Bibb County residents have access to the testing services they need.

“I just think it’s a great community service. Especially, you know, people forget that we’re in a pandemic. This is something that has rocked the whole world. There are people that don’t even have access to the resources that Macon, Georgia has been afforded,” McClendon said.

The testing site will offer free COVID-19 pharyngeal (viral) and serological finger stick rapid tests.

Beulahland Bible Baptist Church pastor Carlos Kelly is also bringing around 1,000 boxes of food for families struggling due to the pandemic.

“Pastor Carlos Kelly’s been doing an excellent job in Beulahland Bible Church. And he had called and said he wanted a part in [the event],” McClendon said.

The Community Church of God and the Macon Community Empowerment Center have already conducted more than a dozen drive-through COVID-19 testing events in the community, according to McClendon, including one drive-through testing day last Tuesday at St. Paul A.M.E. Church.

McClendon had a message for anyone who was hesitant about going to get tested themselves.

“Just because you don’t have symptoms, that doesn’t mean you (don’t) have the virus, and it doesn’t hurt to get a test. And it’s just the responsible thing to do,” McClendon said.

The Community Church of God will host a food giveaway on June 6 as well, though the time and place have yet to be determined.

CVS testing sites

CVS Health and Gov. Brian Kemp’s office recently announced 23 COVID-19 test sites at CVS Pharmacy drive-through locations across the state.

The new testing sites in Middle Georgia include the CVS on 1544 Bass Road in Macon, and the CVS on 3001 Richard B. Russell Parkway in Warner Robins.

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 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Social Vulnerability Index.