CAIRO — The Georgia Department of Public Health is debuting a new appointment system where COVID-19 patients can make their own appointments and receive their test results by email.

Patients can now visit covid19.dph.ga.gov and select “Take the Screening Questionnaire” to begin the application process. A quick response (QR) code will then be emailed to the patient.

Results will be emailed to patients once their specimen has been tested. Positive results will receive a phone call and counsel on isolation and quarantine, said Grady County Health Department director Michelle Thornton.

The Health Department will continue to call results and send results to patients’ doctors upon their request.

Appointments also can be made by calling (229) 352-6567 from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Friday or between 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday.

Specimen collection tests will be conducted in Grady County this weekend on Sunday, June 14 from 9 a.m.-noon and next week on June 17 and 19 from 8 a.m.-noon. Additional testing dates for the final week of June will be released soon, Thornton said.

At least 13 new cases of the novel coronavirus were identified in Grady County this week, according to data from the Health Department. A total of 143 cases have been identified as of Friday morning. The county entered this week with 130 identified cases of the virus.

Five deaths have been attributed to the virus in Grady County.