GA Coronavirus: 'Prioritize Tests For Most Vulnerable'

GEORGIA — While the number of coronavirus cases and deaths continue to rise around the country and Georgia, state officials are saying that tests need to be reserved for those most as risk.

After conversations with hospital and healthcare facility officials, Gov. Brian Kemp, the Georgia Department of Public Health, and the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency 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 coronavirus 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 coronavirus 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 coronavirus and should always consult their healthcare provider if they are sick.

CDC issues revised guidance on coronavirus recovery:

The most important step in containing coronavirus 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 coronavirus, 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 coronavirus.

All Georgians play a critical role in helping to slow the spread of coronavirus 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.

GA Coronavirus: 10 Deaths, 287 Cases; Emergency Ordinances Set

New numbers released Thursday from the Georgia Department of Public Health show there have been 10 deaths and 287 cases of coronavirus across the state.

With the new cases, the DPH released the numbers of tests taken across the state, which totaled more than 1,800.

There have been 1,323 tests done in a commercial lab, with 174 coming in positive. The Department of Public Health Lab has done 508 tests, and had 113 positives.

The number of confirmed and presumed positive cases of COVID-19 rose from 197 on Wednesday to 287 cases in 28 counties on Thursday.

Fulton County has the most cases in the state with 66, followed by Cobb County with 37, Bartow with 26, DeKalb with 22, Dougherty with 20, Cherokee with 16, Gwinnett with 12, Fayette with nine, and Clarke with eight.

Globally, more than 222,000 people have been infected and more than 9,100 people have died from the new coronavirus, Johns Hopkins reported Thursday. Of that total, more than 9,400 confirmed cases are in the United States. There have been 150 deaths in the U.S. have been tied to the virus outbreak, as of Thursday morning.