2nd GA Coronavirus Patient Quarantined At Park

MORGAN COUNTY, GA — More coronavirus cases were confirmed in Georgia Tuesday afternoon — including a second person under quarantine at a state park — bringing the total to 146 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the state.

Officials from Georgia Emergency Management Agency said a patient arrived at the Hard Labor Creek State Park isolation unit Monday night.

Gov. Brian Kemp said last week that seven emergency mobile units were deployed to Hard Labor Creek State Park in Morgan County. Coronavirus patients who aren't able to self-isolate have been sent to the park to stay.

The patient has previously tested positive for COVID-19 at a Georgia hospital and has been discharged from care with instructions to continue self-quarantine for a length of time determined by hospital personnel and Georgia Department of Public Health officials.

The patient will be observed and monitored at the isolation unit by Georgia Department of Public Health. According to officials, this is the only patient expected at the isolation unit at this time.

Furthermore, Georgia Emergency Management Agency has advised local officials that site safety will begin to transition from Georgia State Patrol and Georgia Department of Natural Resources to the Georgia National Guard. This transition is being conducted in order to place our law enforcement partners back into their respective roles throughout the state.

Georgia Emergency Management Agency officials advised there would be no change in safety protocols. As of Saturday, March 14, Georgia Emergency Management Agency has been designated as the lead agency for the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.

The governor's office confirmed that the first patient, Joey Camp from Cherokee County who tested positive for the virus, was isolated on the state park grounds in one of the mobile units. The person was not able to isolate at their primary residence and was not in critical condition requiring any hospital admittance.

Camp was released from quarantine Sunday and sent home. Camp last worked at his job at Waffle House, 1849 Marietta Highway in Canton, on March 1.

See more: Canton Waffle House Employee Tests Positive For Coronavirus

State public health officials determined that a specific part of Hard Labor Creek State Park would be best suited for isolation as individuals are treated by medical professionals.

"This site was specifically chosen for its isolation from the public and ability to house mobile units in the short term," said Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Director Homer Bryson. "State public health staff will monitor the individual's progress and work together with state law enforcement to ensure the safety of the community and the patient."

The isolated site at Hard Labor Creek State Park is closed to public access and closely monitored 24-hours a day, seven days a week by state law enforcement.

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One person in Cobb County has died from the respiratory virus, and the number of confirmed and presumed positive cases of COVID-19 rose from 121 on Monday to 146 cases in 27 counties by Tuesday.

Presumed positive coronavirus cases in Georgia as of Monday include: Richmond County, Rockdale County, Columbia County, Barrow County, Forsyth County, Paulding County, Troup County, Hall County, Dougherty County, Clayton County, Clarke County, Newton County, Henry County, Polk County, Gordon County, Fulton County, Cherokee County, Floyd County, Bartow County, Cobb County, Gwinnett County, DeKalb County, Fayette County, Coweta County, Lee County, Lowndes County and Charlton County.

Fulton County has the most cases in the state with 33, followed by Cobb County with 25, DeKalb with 15, Bartow with 10, and Cherokee and Gwinnett with seven.

The state's lone fatality is a 67-year-old man who was hospitalized at WellStar Kennestone after testing positive for COVID-19 on March 7, authorities said. In addition to being infected with coronavirus disease, the victim also had underlying medical conditions, a news release said.

Globally, more than 185,000 people have been infected and more than 7,300 people have died from the new coronavirus, Johns Hopkins reported Tuesday morning. Of that total, more than 4,600 confirmed cases are in the United States. There have been 85 deaths in the U.S. have been tied to the virus outbreak.