DR. GARY VOCCIO, HEALTH DIRECTOR FOR THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH’S NORTHWEST HEALTH DISTRICT, OFFERS SAFETY TIPS FOR THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND

Dr. Gary Voccio, the Health Director for the Georgia Department of Public Health’s Northwest Health District, has safety tips for Northwest Georgians to keep in mind this Independence Day holiday weekend and throughout the summer.

First off – be aware of the impact that heat and humidity have on your body. Stay hydrated, avoid strenuous outdoor activity during the hottest part of the day, and remember to wear sunscreen. Dr. Voccio says to take care of those pets, too!

Dr. Voccio urges holiday revelers to also be cautious with the consumption of alcohol, particularly on a hot summer day. Take steps to avoid alcohol-related accidents.

In other holiday-related news from the Georgia Department of Public Health Northwest Health District –

The free COVID-19 test site in Floyd County at the Coosa Valley Fairgrounds in Rome will be open Independence Day, Monday, July 4, but test sites in Catoosa and Paulding counties will be closed. Normal hours of operations for all three Northwest Georgia free COVID-19 test sites are:

Catoosa County

CHI Memorial Hospital (former Women’s Center)

100 Gross Crescent Circle

Ft. Oglethorpe, GA 

Mondays, Wednesdays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Floyd County

Coosa Valley Fairgrounds

1400 Martin Luther King Jr., Blvd.

Rome, GA

Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Paulding County

WellStar Paulding Hospital (Urgent Care Center)

120 Greystone Power Blvd.

Dallas, GA

Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.