Georgia Coastal Health District

March 18, 2020

Prioritize COVID-19 Tests for Most Vulnerable, First Responders, Health Workers

ATLANTA – After conversations with hospital and healthcare facility officials, and as COVID-19 continues to spread around the globe and throughout communities in Georgia, Governor Brian P. Kemp, the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), and the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA) issued the following joint statement:

“Many Georgians are eager to be tested right now, but we need to be mindful of our resources. We have to be in this fight together.

“According to federal and state health officials, we must start prioritizing COVID-19 tests for our most vulnerable populations and the people responsible for their care and safety. This will conserve precious medical supplies – like masks, shoe covers and gowns – which are becoming increasingly difficult to find for healthcare facilities due to overuse, export bans and hoarding.

“Georgia’s elderly, those with chronic, underlying health conditions, those who live in a long-term care facility like an assisted living facility or nursing home, and those serving on the front lines as a healthcare worker, first responder, long-term care facility staffer, or law enforcement need tests. The best way to serve the public is to protect the people who are protecting us in this battle.

“It is our responsibility to keep the elderly and chronically ill safe, back our law enforcement and first responders, and protect the doctors, nurses, and healthcare providers working around the clock. We ask everyone to continue to pray for our nation in the weeks ahead.”

According to federal and state health officials, people who do not have symptoms of COVID-19 do not need to be tested. Additionally, most people who are mildly or moderately ill with “cold-like” symptoms do not need to be tested. The majority of people with COVID-19 can safely recover at home with self-isolation and symptomatic treatment. Diagnosis through laboratory testing does not change the care that they would receive. Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 and should always consult their healthcare provider if they are sick.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued revised guidance on COVID-19 recovery. The most important step in containing COVID-19 is that people who are sick with mild respiratory symptoms – fever and cough – should stay home and isolate themselves from others for at least seven days after their symptoms began or 72 hours after their fever has resolved and symptoms have improved. If you have been exposed to an individual with COVID-19, you must self-quarantine for 14 days and monitor for symptoms.

Correctly washing your hands and maintaining social distance by avoiding large gatherings and close contact with people who are sick are two of the easiest ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

All Georgians play a critical role in helping to slow the spread of COVID-19 by adhering to the following guidance:

• Practice social distancing by putting at least 6 feet between yourself and other people.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home if you are sick.
• Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water.
• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

DPH Announces Additional Deaths from COVID-19
Individuals Were Hospitalized in Albany

ATLANTA –  The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is confirming two additional deaths from COVID-19 in Georgia. The individuals, a 42-year-old woman and a 69-year-old-woman, both died in an Albany hospital. In addition to testing positive for COVID-19, each had existing medical conditions.

Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes are at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 and should always consult their healthcare provider if they are sick. Long-term care facilities, nursing homes and congregate living settings for older people must strictly follow COVID-19 prevention measures to stop rapid spread of the virus.

All Georgians play a critical role in helping to slow the spread of COVID-19 by adhering to the following guidance:

• Practice social distancing by putting at least 6 feet between yourself and other people.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home if you are sick.
• Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water.
• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

 For updates on the COVID-19 situation as it develops, follow @GaDPH, @GeorgiaEMA, and @GovKemp on Twitter and @GaDPH, @GEMA.OHS, and @GovKemp on Facebook.

For information about COVID-19, visit https://dph.georgia.gov/novelcoronavirus or https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

There are now 31 confirmed cases or presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 in 12 counties around Georgia.

The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is awaiting confirmatory testing from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on three new presumptive positive cases of COVID-19. Two individuals are residents of DeKalb County, both are hospitalized and the sources of their infections are not known. There is no connection between the two cases. The third individual is a resident of Lowndes County and is hospitalized, the source of the infection is not known.

There are six new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Georgia. One individual is a resident of Lee County and is hospitalized, the source of the infection is not known. One individual is a resident of Cobb County and is hospitalized, the individual has a history of travel outside the U.S. One individual is from Floyd County and is hospitalized, the source of the infection is unknown. Three of the confirmed cases of COVID-19 are in residents of Bartow County, two individuals are hospitalized and the sources of the infections are unknown at this time. The third individual is not hospitalized, and while the source of the infection is not known, this individual does share a connection with the individual from Floyd County mentioned above.

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 and presumed positive cases of COVID-19 are broken down by county as follows:

Confirmed COVID-19 (12)

• Fulton County 3
• Floyd County 2
• Polk County 1
• Cobb 2
• Bartow 3
• Lee 1

Presumptive Positive COVID-19 (19)

• Fulton 3
• Cobb 6
• Fayette 1
• DeKalb 4
• Gwinnett 2
• Cherokee 1
• Charlton 1
• Lowndes 1

Elderly people and individuals with chronic medical conditions may have increased risk for COVID-19.

The best prevention measures for any respiratory virus are:

• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

If you have recently traveled to areas where there are ongoing outbreaks of COVID-19 and develop fever with cough and shortness of breath within 14 days of your travel, or if you have had contact with someone who is suspected to have COVID-19, stay home and call your health care provider or local health department right away. Be sure to call before going to a doctor’s office, emergency room, or urgent care center and tell them about your recent travel and your symptoms.