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Habersham County Special Olympics plans to return for its 50th year next year.
Habersham County’s Special Olympics have been canceled due to preventive measures against the coronavirus pandemic.
“Special Olympics Georgia issued a mandate late yesterday that all state, area, and local games should be suspended through March 31, at which time they will reassess the situation and give further guidance,” a release from local coordinator Jenny McNally read Wednesday. “Our games are currently scheduled for April 3 and there is no way we could wait until March 31 to make a decision as to if we could proceed. I really hate that it has come to this but in the best interest of our students, many of whom are medically fragile, we must cancel this year’s event.”
“However on a brighter note, next year Habersham Special Olympics will be celebrating our 50th year. We look forward to this celebration and will have many additions to the annual games in celebration of this milestone.”
The announcement came moments before the NCAA announced the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments will be held without fans, including the Final Four which was scheduled at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The NCAA later canceled the remainder of the basketball season including the NCAA Tournament in its entirety.
The NBA, NHL, MLS and Major League Baseball suspended its seasons. The Masters was postponed Friday morning as well.
Back at home, Habersham Medical Center adopted a “no visitors” policy for patients in the nursing home until further notice.
“Given the rapid rates of transmission of the COVID-19, it is critical that we take every precaution possible to lower the risk of exposure to the virus for all Habersham Home residents who are particularly vulnerable to infection,” a release from Habersham Medical Center said. “Protecting our residents’ health and safety is our top priority and we will take every possible measure to minimize any potential exposure to the virus.”
The release added that all HMC healthcare members and service providers to Habersham Home will be screened for symptoms of acute respiratory illness (e.g., fever, cough, difficulty breathing) before entering the facility.
The only exceptions to the no visitor stance will be in compassionate cases.
Habersham Medical Center CEO Lynn Boggs said Wednesday that the hospital is taking other precautions as well.
“We are screening all patients entering the facility and isolating anyone with questionable exposure or symptoms,” Boggs said. “We are restricting all hospital visitors as per CDC and state guidelines, and we are requiring quarantine of any staff traveling outside the country or on cruises when they return. This is evolving, as we are receiving daily updates and recommendations from CDC, which we will be following.”
Georgia is expected to receive $14.7 million from the Center for Disease Control as part of a $560 million package to combat COVID-19, according to a White House press release.
Gov. Brian Kemp announced Thursday that Georgia had its first death from COVID-19, a 67-year-old man who was hospitalized at WellStar Kennestone Hospital in Marietta.
“As our state continues to address this pandemic, I urge Georgians to remain calm and support their neighbors and communities. We are in this fight together,” Kemp said.