FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga.  — Deputy EMA Director Joey Smith provided a COVID update at the start of Tuesday’s Board of Commissioners meeting. He announced the Department of Public Health (DPH) opened a COVID testing site at Central Park earlier this month in conjunction with Mako Medical Laboratories.

The hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and testing is free. Smith said approximately 75-100 tests are administered daily. He also reported that reported cases have been on the decline the past two weeks and that trend is expected to continue.

He also announced that DPH began to conduct a COVID vaccine clinic at the 1800 Building on the Northside Hospital Forsyth campus Monday.

Smith and County Manager Kevin Tanner thanked Chief Operating Officer Lynn Jackson and Northside Hospital for their support and assistance.

“They have been incredible partners,” he said. “They have given the Health Department an 8,000 square feet office building at no charge. They are also prepared to assist with antibodies in that space.”

Chairwoman Cindy Mills asked of a spike in cases could be expected and Tanner said based on an analysis by the IT Department that another spike could be expected by year’s end.

Boosters are not currently available through DPH, but they are available at some pharmacies for those who are immuno-compromised or are over 65 years of age.