Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid has signed a 30-day emergency declaration in the county due to a sharp surge in COVID-19 cases, citing a “critically low” shortage of hospital beds.
In a release issued by Cobb spokesman Ross Cavitt, Cupid also cited high test positivity rates and low vaccination rates.
She urged those who have not been vaccinated to do so, and encouraged businesses and other non-government entities in Cobb to mandate indoor mask use “for the protection of employees and customers.”
As of Thursday, Cobb has a 14-day average of 670 cases per 100,000 people. The “high community spread” threshold is 100 cases, and that figure has risen sharply in the last month.
But while Cobb is imposing a mask mandate for county buildings starting Friday, Cupid cannot broaden that mandate.
That’s because Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp earlier Thursday issued an order preventing local governments from imposing mask mandates and other restrictions on private businesses.
Kemp said on social media that his order “will make sure businesses across our state can’t be punished by local governments for trying to make a living, pay their employees, and save their livelihoods. Georgia is open for business!”
Cobb did not have a mask mandate beyond county buildings last year under former chairman Mike Boyce. Some cities in Georgia, including Atlanta and Savannah, have imposed mandates on non-government entities.
“Public health officials are urging us to do whatever we can to encourage people to get the COVID vaccine and wear masks while near other people,” Cupid said in Cavitt’s release.
“This declaration will open the doors to provide assistance to others in the county who need it and highlight the critical stress this surge has put on our local healthcare facilities.”
Her declaration also activates the county’s Emergency Operations Plan for resources to be funneled to hospitals, state agencies or others with a critical need for equipment and supplies.
You can read the full Cobb emergency declaration by clicking here.
On Thursday, executives from hospitals in Georgia, including Wellstar, discussed how the COVID-19 surge is affecting their operations. You can watch it below.
Related content
- Cobb COVID test positivity rate reaches ‘red’ zone
- Cobb imposes mask mandate at county buildings
- Cobb COVID-19 hospitalization rates soar with Delta variant
- Cobb public health director urges masking, vaccines
- Checking Cobb’s vaccination rates by census tracts
- East Cobb News COVID information and resource page
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