North, GA – Health departments in Gilmer, Murray and Pickens counties will begin reopening to the public during the week of Monday, June 8. Of the six county health departments in the North Georgia Health District, these three were temporarily closed as part of the districtwide concerted emergency response to COVID-19 and testing.

Only the most essential public health services are available at this time, and while public health staff in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield counties continue providing *free COVID-19 testing, health department days and/or hours of services will vary. Also, only the Cherokee County Health Department location in Canton is open to the public. Therefore, residents are required to call for an appointment prior to visiting their local health department.

*(Please refer below to the COVID-19 testing schedule for the w/o June 8 as provided by public health in North Georgia. This schedule will change weekly. Call 1-888-881-1474 to register.)

Calling ahead for an appointment will also help protect the public and staff from the spread of COVID-19 through social distancing. Additional protective measures include screening visitors for COVID-19 symptoms as they arrive, and all staff and visitors must wear a face mask when entering the building. Also, clients with appointments must enter alone. Children arriving at the health departments for services must be accompanied by only one adult.

Essential services at the county health departments include:

Phone numbers for the county health departments are: Cherokee – (770) 345-7371; Fannin – (706) 632-3023; Gilmer – (706) 635-4343; Murray – (706) 695-4585; Pickens – (706) 253-2821; and, Whitfield – (706) 279-9600.

For information about opportunities for Free COVID-19 Testing by public health in North Georgia, go to bit.ly/FREE-COVID-19-Tests_NorthGA.