The Georgia Department of Public Health has reported that there were a total of 121 confirmed cases of COVID-19 (or coronavirus) as of noon Monday. A break down of cases per county is posted at www.dph.georgia.gov. The DPH updates the site each day at noon to provide regular and accurate information to the public.
Dr. Gary Voccio, the Health Director for the Georgia Department of Public Health, Northwest Health District, indicates that there is now clear indication of community spread of COVID-19 in Northwest Georgia. In a press release on Monday, Dr. Voccio said, “Everyone should operate under the assumption that there is transmission in your community already. Many people are going to get sick, but based on what we know about this virus, most people will not develop serious illness.”
Floyd County public health officials have notified Floyd County Schools that an employee who serves both Alto Park and Cave Spring Elementary Schools has been confirmed to have COVID-19 and is now in self-quarantine, reports an FCS media release. The employee may have come in contact with teachers and students while in attendance at the 5th grade FCS Quiz Bowl event which was held last Tuesday at Berry College.
The Rome City Schools shared a video on Monday in which Louis C. Byars, Superintendent, discussed the closure of local schools due to concerns about the coronavirus. He also encouraged all people to continue to take measures to prevent the spread of this and other illnesses.
Information pertaining to school closures, including updates about meals for students during these closures, are posted on each system’s website.
For information about COVID-19 (coronavirus), visit www.dph.georgia.gov or www.cdc.gov.
Get an updated list of community-wide closures and cancellations related to COVID-19 online at www.wlaq1410.com.
The Georgia General Assembly on Monday voted to ratify the public health emergency declaration that was issued by Governor Brian Kemp during this past weekend. State lawmakers’ 2020 session has been suspended indefinitely
due to the coronavirus, though they are slated to reconvene in mid-April if an extension of Kemp’s declaration is needed. Kemp has ordered the closure of all public schools across the state through the end of this month in an effort to contain the virus. Schools in Rome and Floyd County have been closed since late last week.