ATLANTA and DECATUR, Ga. – As cases of the latest COVID-19 variant continue to emerge throughout metro Atlanta and Georgia, residents of the greater Atlanta area now have an additional free resource to aid in mitigating community spread and illness.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), in collaboration with the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has launched the ‘Home Test to Treat’ program, an entirely virtual community health intervention that provides free COVID-19 health services—at-home rapid tests, telehealth sessions and at-home treatments—in selected communities, with priority for individuals who are un- or underinsured or are at high risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes.

“The Home Test to Treat program is a great way to ensure community members have access to the care they need, from the comfort and safety of their own homes,” says Dr. Lynn Paxton, District Health Director at the Fulton County Board of Health. “This is particularly important as we begin to see an uptick in cases.”

“Home Test to Treat provides a critical linkage to care for those in our communities that need it the most,” adds Dr. Sandra Valenciano, District Health Director of the DeKalb County Board of Health. “An added bonus is the availability of the web-based access tool in English and Spanish, and being able to enroll through the telephone if computer access is unavailable. This is especially important given DeKalb’s diverse population.”

The program, launched earlier this year in Berks County, Pa., will connect thousands of patients with COVID-19 testing and care. DeKalb and Fulton County residents can register for the free program online at test2treat.org or by calling 800-682-2829. Individuals do not need to be sick to enroll.

Additionally, COVID-19 rapid test kits are available at all DeKalb and Fulton County Board of Health regional health centers and other locations throughout the area. For a complete list of testing resources and locations in each county, visit dekalbpublichealth.com/covid-19-testings/ for DeKalb County and fultoncountyboh.com/services/epidemiology/covid-19/covid-19-testing/ in Fulton County.