Free COVID-19 testing now available in Northwest Georgia.
ROME, GA: Northwest Georgians with symptoms of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), such as fever, dry cough, or shortness of breath, may receive free testing provided by public health.
Archive for the ‘News’ Category
Sharp Increases in COVID-19 Cases and Deaths in Georgia
Atlanta – The numbers of cases and deaths from COVID-19 have steadily increased in Georgia and around the country in recent days. These numbers are dramatic, and the grief over loved ones lost to the virus is unfathomable. With more testing, the numbers will continue to increase.
New Data Supports Social Distancing Now More Than Ever
Atlanta – As Governor Brian Kemp and DPH Commissioner Kathleen E. Toomey, M.D., M.P.H., finalize the details of the Executive Order requiring Georgians to shelter in place, it is important to emphasize why these measures are needed now to keep all Georgians healthy and safe and to stop the spread of COVID-19.
COVID-19 update and statement on businesses remaining open
ROME, GA: This is a difficult, uncertain, and frightening time. Our job now, everyone’s job, is to bear what we’re all feeling and take appropriate action to help protect our families and loved ones, ourselves, our communities, and, for many of us, our employees. Many of our Northwest Georgia workplaces, some with large numbers of employees, have had COVID-19 cases.
Volunteer for COVID-19 Response
Atlanta – The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is receiving offers from medical professionals and other individuals looking for ways to help with the COVID-19 response. An effective response relies on volunteers who are pre-credentialed and organized. Georgia Responds is Georgia’s health and medical volunteer program which matches the skills and credentials of medical and nonmedical volunteers to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in Georgia.
Statement on specimen collection for COVID-19 testing
ROME, GA: The Georgia Department of Public Health Northwest Health District is working with federal, state and local partners to expand COVID-19 specimen collection for testing in our communities as rapidly as possible. We wish we had more overall specimen collection and testing capability, and that’s coming, but right now our very limited specimen collection for testing is only for highest-risk individuals who are symptomatic, meet specific criteria, have been evaluated by their healthcare provider, and received an ID number from public health.
Public health director assesses Northwest Georgia coronavirus situation
ROME, GA: Dr. Gary Voccio, health director for the ten-county Georgia Department of Public Health Northwest Health District, acknowledges there is now clear indication of community spread of COVID-19 in Northwest Georgia. “Everyone should operate under the assumption that there is transmission in your community already,” Voccio says. “Many people are going to get sick, but based on what we know about this virus, most people will not develop serious illness,” Voccio says.
Northwest Georgia medical and public health leaders endorse event cancellations and large gatherings
ROME, GA: Northwest Georgia medical and public health leaders are working closely and collaboratively to aggressively respond to the COVID-19 impact in our communities. In reviewing the increased number and nature of COVID-19 cases in Bartow, Floyd, Gordon, and Polk county residents, we believe there is now clear indication of community spread. As leaders of local health and hospital systems across Northwest Georgia, we unanimously endorse the difficult yet necessary decision to cancel events and large gatherings and encourage the use of social distancing to mitigate spread of the virus and best protect our communities.
Kemp, DPH Roll Out Status Report Website for COVID-19 in Georgia
ATLANTA – Today Governor Kemp and Kathleen E. Toomey, M.D., M.P.H., Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) commissioner, announced a daily status report page for confirmed COVID-19 cases in Georgia. This will replace nightly news releases from the Governor’s Office and DPH. The report updates every night at midnight to ensure accurate and regular information is provided to the public. The new tool can be found on the DPH website.
Five Additional Presumptive Positive COVID-19 Cases in Georgia
ATLANTA – The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is awaiting confirmatory testing from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on five additional presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 in Georgia. The additional cases are in Cobb, Fayette, Gwinnett and two in DeKalb. The individuals are hospitalized, and the sources of their infections are unknown.
