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Photo by Claudio Schwarz @purzlbaum on Unsplash
Georgia Department of Public Health announced Wednesday that there were five cases of COVID-19 coronavirus identified in District 2, including three cases in Hall County and two in Forsyth County.
DPH also announced two more deaths in Georgia, as 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.
There have been no reported cases of COVID-19 in Habersham County as of press time Thursday.
“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,” a DPH release said Thursday. “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.”
The state Department of Public Health reported 197 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Georgia as of noon Wednesday, a number that has increased steadily in recent days as state health officials began more testing.
Gov. Brian Kemp spoke Wednesday and stressed the importance of conserving limited resources when it comes to COVID-19 testing.
“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,” Kemp said. “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.”
Kemp said 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.
“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,” Kemp said.
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.
Kemp also announced that Georgia has received an official statewide disaster declaration from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). This declaration will provide assistance in the form of SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans to impacted small businesses in all 159 counties in Georgia.
“This is great news for Georgia small business owners,” Kemp said. “As we continue to navigate the impact of COVID-19 on our economy, small business owners can apply for much-needed funding to continue operation and pay their employees. My thanks to the Trump Administration for their swift action to protect small business owners throughout the country.”
The application is now live, and Georgia small business owners can go directly to the SBA for assistance. Small business owners should visit www.disasterloan.sba.gov for information and the application.
After losing hundreds of millions of dollars in economic impact to the state of Georgia just from the loss of the Final Four and The Masters, hotels across the state are getting crushed by the virtual shutdown of travel and tourism.
In Georgia, there have already been 24,200 direct hotel-related jobs lost, along with 104,381 total jobs lost supporting hotel industry.
“We have had massive layoffs, our occupancy is less than 10%, we have furloughed our entire restaurant staff and our managers are working 10-12 hours a day,” hotel owner Gabriele Webster of Atlanta said. “We lose up to $5,000 a day, and it is only getting worse!”