East Cobb Government

Ga. shelter-in-place underway; Cobb emergency extended

by

Cobb Commission Chairman Mike Boyce on Thursday extended an emergency declaration he ordered last week until April 24, ordered certain non-essential businesses to close and clarified the county’s “shelter in place” provisions.

Mike Boyce

Grocery stores and other essential businesses also must follow further guidelines to observe social distancing measures to help prevent the spread of Coronavirus.

Effective immediately, the following types of businesses must close:

  • Gyms, fitness and recreation centers;
  • Hair salons;
  • Barber shops;
  • Nail salons;
  • Waxing salons;
  • Tanning salons;
  • Spas;
  • Tattoo parlors;
  • Massage-therapy establishments and massage services;
  • All other nonessential businesses in which “social distancing” minimums of six feet between persons cannot be maintained at all times.

Many of those kinds of businesses in East Cobb—commonly called “personal touch” businesses—closed before Boyce’s emergency declaration last week, which initially was scheduled to last until April 15.

But in his order Thursday, (you can read it in its entirety here), Boyce said more businesses that stay open need to do more to help combat the contagious virus and more time needs to transpire for social distancing and other guidelines to have an effect.

Cobb’s confirmed Coronavirus case count now stands at 320, with 17 deaths, and both of those numbers are among the highest in Georgia.

In his order, Boyce also expanded the emergency declaration to require families and individuals to shelter in place at their homes, except to purchase food and to take care of the health and safety of those in their households.

They can leave to work at businesses that are deemed essential during the emergency, to go outside for exercise while maintaining social distancing guidelines, and to visit immediate family members to help with child care or elderly care.

“I want to make absolutely sure that all of our measures help slow the spread of the virus,” Boyce said in a statement released by the county late Thursday afternoon. “Our healthcare system in the county still has capacity, still has available ventilators, so it is important rather than filling those beds and using those ventilators we take all necessary measures to not use up those resources.”

Dr. Janet Memark
Dr. Janet Memark, director of Cobb and Douglas Public Health

Essential retail businesses that stay open, including grocery stores, will have to post signage and provide public-address updates outlining and reminding customers of social distancing mandates.

Those include maintaining a distance of least six feet between people, discouraging those who are sick from coming to the stores, and coughing into a tissue instead of the open air.

Stores must also regularly disinfect common areas and provide cleaning and disinfecting products in employee areas.

Those businesses also are being encouraged to provide “contactless” points of interaction and purchase, including placing plexiglass around cashier stations (this is happening at Publix stores) and discouraging customers from bringing reusable bags.

Grocers also are being told not to offer product samples and to prevent customers from using self-service items that are food-related.

The other essential retail stores defined in the order include that “support repair or construction work for businesses and homes, and businesses that sell products to support persons working from home, including computers, audio, electronics, IT and telecommunications equipment.”

At a commissioners’ work session Tuesday, Cobb and Douglas Public Health officials urged that county parks remain closed. They were closed before the emergency declaration, and Boyce announced on Friday they would remain so at the direction of the county manager.

Some state parks also have closed, and most federal parks are closed, including the Chattahoochee National Recreation Area.

Also on Thursday, Gov. Brian Kemp provided details of a statewide shelter-in-place to take effect at 6 a.m. Friday. Georgia’s caseload and death count has risen dramatically in the last week, to 5,348 and 163 respectively, with nearly 20 percent of confirmed cases involving hospitalization.

(You can read it here).

Both Boyce and Kemp had been reluctant to shut down businesses, and the governor had come under increasing pressure, with only a few states not already having shelter-in-place orders.

The order he signed Thursday restricts all business and other activities to 10 people or less, observing social distancing measures. Families and individuals must also shelter-in-place except for essential travel and business or immediate family reasons.

Those businesses or operations not deemed to be part of the “critical infrastructure” will be limited to what the order calls “minimum basic operations,” also following social distancing and hygiene and sanitation practices.

Other “personal touch” businesses also must close, including bowling alleys, cinemas and live performance theaters.

The statewide order continues through April 13.

Related Content

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

No extension for Cobb April 1 homestead exemption deadline

by

While deadlines have been extended for such things as income tax filings, the Cobb Tax Commissioner’s office is getting out word that the April 1 deadline for applying for a homestead exemption remains the same.Cobb tax commissioner, Canton Road tag office closing

No fooling.

April 1 is Wednesday, and although the tax commissioners offices are closed due to a limited operations status in Cobb County, you can apply in the following ways:

  • Applying online for basic Homestead Exemption (only)
  • Downloading an application to apply for any and all Homestead Exemption types such as Age 62, State Senior, Veterans, etc.
  • Visiting one of our drop box locations to pick-up and complete a blank form
  • Visiting our East tag office to pick-up a blank form (available at the front door)

If you want to drop your application in the mail or at drop box locations around the county, here’s where and how to do that:

Mailing Address:

Cobb County Tax Commissioner
PO Box 100127
Marietta, GA 30061

Drop Box Locations:

WEST PARK GOV’T CENTER
736 Whitlock Ave
Marietta, GA 30068
Blank applications available at this location

SOUTH COBB GOV’T CENTER
4700 Austell Rd
Austell, GA 30106
Blank applications available at this location

If you need to conduct other business with the Tax Commissioner’s office (including car tag renewals and property tax transactions, staff is addressing calls, e-mails and social media communications. For online options:
You can also get new car tag decals instantly at the following kiosks in Cobb County:
  • South Cobb Government Service Center
    4700 Austell Road, Austell (6 a.m. – midnight, daily)
  • East Cobb Government Service Center
    4400 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta (6 a.m. – midnight, daily)
  • Inside Kroger stores (check kroger.com for the most current store hours)
    • 3240 South Cobb Drive SE, Smyrna
    • 1000 Whitlock Ave NW, Marietta
    • 3162 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta
    • 4400 Brownsville Road, Powder Springs
There are 24/7 drop boxes for all transaction types at:
  • West Park Government Center, 736 Whitlock Avenue, Marietta
  • South Cobb Government Service Center, 4700 Austell Road, Austell
A few more ways to get in touch, and when to do so:
  • The Tax Commissioner’s Customer Care team will continue providing assistance via phone and email, 8 a.m-5 p.m. on weekdays.
  • Property tax: For general inquiries, contact 770-528-8600 or tax@cobbtax.org. For payments, call 1-866-PAY-COBB (1-866-729-2622)
  • Motor vehicle: tags@cobbta.org or 770-528-8600
  • Mail: P.O. Box 100127, Marietta, GA 30061

 

Related Content

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Cobb commissioners to hold special COVID-19 meeting Wednesday

by

Cobb state of emergency

Cobb County government is getting out word this afternoon that the Board of Commissioners will be holding another special called meeting Wednesday for an update on the county’s response to COVID-19.

The meeting is at 2 p.m. in the second-floor board room of the Cobb government administration building (100 Cherokee St., downtown Marietta), but the public is encouraged to watch via the following outlets:

Last week commissioners meet in a special called meeting (above, observing social distancing guidelines) at which Chairman Mike Boyce outlined his intent to declare a state of emergency.

He did so later in the day, through April 15.

Monday’s message about the Wednesday meeting wasn’t any more specific than a general update, and nothing further has been posted yet to the commission’s meeting agenda page.

Cobb also is adding information to its COVID-19 community hub with new links that include a survey about grocery store inventory, and a similar survey for public input on restaurant delivery and pickup experiences.

Related Content

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Georgia Coronavirus cases top 2,000; 144 confirmed in Cobb

by

Cobb Commissioners Coronavirus meeting

The number of positive Coronavirus cases in Georgia surpassed the 2,000 mark on Friday, or nearly one in five people who have been tested for COVID-19.

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, as of noon Friday 2,001 people have tested positive, with 566 hospitalized. There have been 64 deaths in the state attributed to COVID-19.

The number of cases Thursday night was over 1,600. Currently 9,865 people have been tested across the state.

In a town hall meeting Thursday night, Gov. Brian Kemp the state is working with data that’s two weeks old, so the caseload is expected to continue to surge.

During the town hall, which was aired on radio and television outlets across Georgia, Kemp defended his decision not to impose a statewide lockdown, as has been the case in other states.

He has issued a shelter-in-place order for vulnerable populations, especially the elderly, and stressed that they should stay home. He referenced his own mother.

While there are high population areas and cities—especially Albany—where high numbers of cases are being reported, Kemp said “I have to balance that” with rural counties who don’t have any at all.

He said that “we’ve targeted areas that we need to target.”

In Friday’s update, 24 counties reported their first positive cases. In all, 103 of Georgia’s 159 counties now have positive test results.

Fulton County leads the way with 307, followed by Dougherty (where Albany is located) with 193, then DeKalb (181) and Cobb. Most of the other counties with the most cases are in metro Atlanta, as well as Athens, Gainesville and Rome:

Gwinnett 102
Bartow 98
Carroll 55
Cherokee 46
Clayton 46
Henry 40
Lee 35
Clarke 32
Douglas 27
Hall 24
Floyd 20

Friday’s update doesn’t have a county-by-county breakdown of deaths. Earlier this week, Dr. Janet Memark, director of Cobb and Douglas Public Health, told Cobb commissioners there had been five deaths in Cobb County.

Related Content

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Cobb County declares state of emergency through April 15

by
Cobb state of emergency
Cobb commissioners practice social distancing while discussing an emergency declaration Tuesday.

Cobb Commission Chairman Mike Boyce on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in the county, limiting hours for non-essential businesses, barring restaurants from dining room service and ordering citizens to “shelter in place” for the next three weeks.

His executive order in response to the Coronavirus pandemic (you can read it here) takes effect at noon on Wednesday and continues through noon on April 15.

That means that public gatherings — inside and outdoors — of more than 10 people are prohibited anywhere in the unincorporated part of Cobb.

The hours for non-essential businesses are restricted from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Restaurants can offer only takeout delivery or curbside pickup services.

Restaurants that are licensed to sell alcoholic beverages can sell them unopened to takeout or curbside customers during the hours they’re allowed to do so on their pouring licenses.

Businesses that are open must maintain social distancing guidelines of having a minimum of six feet of distance between people while they’re in the establishment.

(A list of essential and non-essential businesses as well as the emergency declaration are being posted on the county website.)

The order does not include a curfew or mandatory quarantine, which Boyce has said he does not want to impose.

“We’ve done our best to have informal social distancing,” Boyce said during a special Cobb Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday morning. “And as we saw this weekend it’s simply not working.”

Boyce said the declaration could be advised, depending on recommendations from public health officials monitoring the spread of the virus.

“If we need to consider closing all non-essential businesses and tighten other provisions we will do that to protect the residents of this County,” he said in a statement issued by the county.

As of 7 p.m. Tuesday, Cobb had 90 confirmed Coronavirus cases and five of Georgia’s 38 deaths. Statewide, the number of cases has grown to 1,092. Of those confirmed cases, nearly 33 percent have been hospitalized, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health.

Cobb public health officials urged commissioners Tuesday to order a shelter-in-place to slow the spread of the virus in Cobb, which has had one of the highest totals of Coronavirus cases in Georgia, since there’s no vaccine or medication.

They also said medical and health-care capacity needs to be alleviated as the number of cases has grown.

The full declaration also will be posted on the county’s website; once we have it we’ll also link to it here.

Related Stories

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Georgia Coronavirus cases top 1,000, Cobb with 86; 32 deaths statewide

by

Cobb Commissioners Coronavirus meeting

The number of confirmed Coronavirus cases in Georgia continues to rise dramatically. As of noon Tuesday, there were 1,026 positive test results across the state, after more than 800 were reported Monday night.

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, the death toll also has risen, to 32 on Tuesday, up from 25 on Monday.

Cobb County had 86 confirmed Coronavirus cases as of noon Tuesday, and at least five deaths.

The latter figure is according to Dr. Janet Memark, director of Cobb and Douglas Public Health, in a briefing before Cobb commissioners Tuesday morning.

They held a special meeting to discuss a state of emergency declaration. Cobb Commission Chairman Mike Boyce has drafted an order that he was expected to formalize Tuesday afternoon.

Boyce didn’t need to get a vote from his colleagues, but wanted them to have a public discussion of the matter.

Memark is calling on Boyce to issue a shelter-in-place order that’s similar to what is in effect in the city of Atlanta.

Under shelter-in-place, most businesses would close, except those deemed essential, and citizens would be ordered to stay at home, except to shop for necessities.

On Monday, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp issued a shelter-in-place for certain at-risk populations and ordered bars and nightclubs closed. But he declined to issue a broader shelter-in-place statewide.

Boyce’s draft order was distributed to commissioners before Tuesday’s meeting but was not made public beforehand.

Related Stories

Memark said the health care system in Cobb could be overrun soon if more aggressive social distancing measures are not undertaken.

She said testing for the Coronavirus, or COVID-19, is not a short-term solution because of a limited supply of test kits and because the virus is spreading so fast.

Test results are typically returned in 3-7 days, she said.

“We are on the upswing of cases and just below our capacity for health care this time,” she told commissioners.

She said there are fewer than 50 ventilators at the two full-service hospitals in Cobb County.

More than anything, she said, social distancing measures need to be followed to stop the spread of the virus.

After noting that many people were out over the weekend in large gathering spots, at parks, restaurants and other places, Memark said that “the message isn’t getting out strongly enough.”

Until Tuesday’s new figures, Cobb had the second-highest number of cases in Georgia. Fulton leads with 184, followed by DeKalb with 94, Dougherty with 90, then Cobb.

Dr. Danny Branstetter, director of infection prevention at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, told commissioners—who were seated spaced apart at distances recommended in social distancing guidelines—that a shelter-in-place order “will buy us time” and help preserve health-care capacity.

Boyce, who on Friday said he didn’t want to close businesses, said “this is a tough call” but that the measures that have been followed thus far are “not working. We’ve got to give serious consideration to something like shelter-in-place.”

He had the general support of most of his colleagues, including South Cobb commissioner Lisa Cupid, who listened in and participated in the meeting via teleconference from her home. She said it was important for the board “to set an example for our community.”

But commissioner Bob Ott of East Cobb warned that by “narrowing the window” for citizens to get out and do essential things, like food shopping, “you bring more people together.”

“Government cannot do everything,” Ott said. “At some point in time, people have to take personal responsibility. A shelter-in-place in a county with 760,000 people is not enforceable.”

Boyce was clear that his order will not include a curfew, as has been ordered in other states and locales.

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Kemp limits public gatherings; closes bars and nightclubs

by

Kemp executive order

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp on Monday ordered a number of restrictions on public activity across the state, but did not mandate a full “shelter in place” for the overall population that some of his counterparts have enacted.

In a briefing late Monday afternoon, Kemp said he was issuing an executive order limiting public gatherings to 10 or fewer people (unless they meet social distancing guidelines), ordering bars and nightclubs to be closed, and requiring medically fragile people to be quarantined for 14 days.

His latest executive order to combat Coronavirus, or COVID-19, begins at noon Tuesday and continues until noon on April 6.

The “shelter in place” order is for people who live in long-term care homes, those who are being treated for cancer, those with compromised immune systems and individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19.

The new measures, he said, are “intended to ensure the health and safety of Georgians across the state,” he said, reading from prepared remarks. “This fight is not over, but we are in this fight together.”

Kemp also announced that the state income tax filing deadline would be pushed back to July 15 to coincide with the delayed deadline to file federal returns.

Related Stories

In recounting Monday’s updated statistics—772 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Georgia, including 79 in Cobb, and 25 deaths statewide—Kemp said the state would be taking more actions to conduct testing, order medical supplies and ramp up the work of health care providers.

A total of 23 test sites are operating across the state, including one at Jim Miller Park in Marietta. But only those with a referral from a medical provider, the elderly, health care providers and first responders can be tested at those locations.

Kemp said he has asked the U.S. Department of Health and Human services to provide another order of PPE—personal protective equipment—for health care professionals, and is directing the Georgia Emergency Management Agency to order more supplies.

To date, Kemp said, supplies sent to 142 hospitals in Georgia include 532,170 masks, 65,640 face shields, 640,600 surgical masks, 46,740 gowns, 635,000 gloves, and 64 pallets of general hospital supplies.

He said over the weekend that 268,200 N95 surgical masks were delivered to all of those 142 hospitals, and 30 ventilators were sent to hospitals in Dougherty and Floyd counties, which have been hard-hit with COVID-cases.

Kemp also is requesting from the U.S. Department of Defense that the Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta remain open to quarantine those with COVID-19 from metro Atlanta.

No broad ‘shelter in place’

A number of states and localities across the country have imposed “shelter in place” mandates that close all non-essential businesses, and allow citizens to go out only to buy food or in the case of an emergency.

Last week, Kemp said he didn’t want to that, or to order a broad mandate to quarantine or impose curfew.

On Monday, Democratic leaders in the Georgia House sent a letter urging him to issue a 14-day statewide shelter in place order (you can read it here), a request also made by Republican House Speaker David Ralston.

In his Monday briefing, Kemp didn’t refer to those requests.

In his new order, establishments or events with more than 10 people will be allowed only if they practice social distancing requirements of having at least six feet of space between individuals (supermarkets are not included in the order).

His order also gives the Georgia Department of Public Health the power to shut down any businesses, organizations or gathering places—including churches and other houses of worship—that don’t comply with the new restrictions.

“We are all part of the solution,” Kemp said. “If your friends, neighbors or local organizations are not complying, call them out. Or report them to us.”

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

 

Cobb County reverses course, closes parks due to Coronavirus

by

Cobb parks closed Coronavirus

After saying over the weekend that public parks would stay open to give citizens a place to escape cabin fever due to Coronavirus, Cobb County government is closing them down.

The closures—which include all outdoor and indoor parks and recreational facilities—are effective immediately and until further notice. They’re being done in the “interest of public health and to encourage social distancing,” according to a message issued Monday afternoon.

Cobb government spokesman Ross Cavitt told East Cobb News that park crews were starting the process Monday afternoon, and that “it may take the rest of today and much of tomorrow to post signage” and take other measures to keep the parks closed.

A number of nearby jurisdictions have been closing parks in recent days, including Dunwoody, Sandy Springs and Kennesaw.

The National Park Service also has closed the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, which straddles the river in East Cobb and Sandy Springs.

On Saturday, East Cobb Park (photo above) was as busy as a typical early spring weekend day, with people walking (many with dogs), playing in open areas and on playgrounds.

On Friday, Cobb Commission Chairman Mike Boyce explained keeping parks open by saying that citizens “want to go somewhere, at least for a little while, where they can have some comfort.”

There was a posting to that effect on Cobb government’s Facebook page over the weekend, although it engendered some critical comments about the wisdom of keeping parks open. That posting has been removed.

The number of confirmed Coronavirus in Cobb rose to 79 on Monday, up from 55 over the weekend, and 772 cases have been confirmed in Georgia. Thus far, 25 people in Georgia have died from the virus, including one at Kennestone Hospital.

Cobb commissioners will meet tomorrow morning in a special called meeting over the Coronavirus situation, and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp will be providing a briefing at 5 p.m. Monday, and it can be seen live on the governor’s Facebook page or at the Georgia Public Broadcasting site.

Related Stories

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

 

Cobb commissioners to hold special Coronavirus meeting Tuesday

by

Cobb government spokesman Ross Cavitt send out word late Monday morning that the Cobb Board of Commissioners will hold a special Coronavirus meeting Tuesday.Cobb County logo, Cobb 2017 elections

That begins at 10:30 a.m. and will include an update on the county’s response to the pandemic and the delivery of services.

The meeting takes place in the BOC meeting room in the Cobb government building (100 Cherokee St., downtown Marietta), but the public is being asked to tune in at cobbcounty.org or the county’s YouTube and Facebook pages.

Cobb County Commission Chairman Mike Boyce said in a release issued by Cavitt that “the Board will hear from the Director of the Cobb and Douglas Public Health Department to help us decide how to respond to this unheralded public health crisis.”

The county also has established a hotline designed to answer county-specific questions The number is 770-590-5790 for county operations; if you need health-related answers the state COVID-19 hotline number is 844-442-2681.

Cobb has been on “limited operations status” since Wednesday.

On Friday, Boyce said he was reluctant to shut down businesses or impose curfew or quarantine.

Some of those measures are being undertaken in Smyrna, Kennesaw, Sandy Springs, Roswell and the city of Atlanta.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp also does not want to do that, although other local governments in the state have ordered shutdowns that have been in place in other states and locales.

At noon Monday, the Georgia Department of Public Health reported 722 confirmed cases of Coronavirus, or COVID-19 in the state, 79 of them in Cobb County. That trails only Fulton County, which has 145 cases.

The death toll in Georgia from the virus has climbed to 25, and 5.069 people have been tested.

Kemp will be providing a briefing at 5 p.m. Monday, and it can be seen live on the governor’s Facebook page or at the Georgia Public Broadcasting site.

 

Related Stories

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Upcoming Cobb government meetings postponed until May

by

Meetings for the Cobb Board of Commissioners and appointed bodies on planning and zoning matters that were to have taken place through March and in April have been postponed or cancelled.

Here’s what the county put out late this week:Cobb County Government logo

  • Board of Commissioners work session, 1:30 p.m., Monday, March 23: CANCELED
  • Board of Commissioners regular meeting, 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 24: CANCELED
  • Planning Commission zoning hearing, 9 a.m., Tuesday, April 7: POSTPONED UNTIL May 5
  • Board of Commissioners regular meeting, 9 a.m., Tuesday, April 14
  • Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA), 1 p.m., Wednesday, April 15: POSTPONED UNTIL May 13
  • Board of Commissioners zoning hearing, 9 a.m., Tuesday, April 21: POSTPONED UNTIL May 19.

Agenda items will move forward to the next scheduled meeting date.

Related stories

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Boyce: ‘No intention’ to close Cobb businesses; parks staying open

by

In a video message Friday, Cobb Commission Chairman Mike Boyce said he’s not inclined to declare a state of emergency in the county, even though two Cobb cities have done that.

The City of Smyrna has declared a state of emergency starting at 8 p.m. Friday until April 3, prohibiting gatherings of 10 people or more, ordering certain businesses to close and forbidding restaurants from providing dining room service.

The City of Kennesaw also has declared a state of emergency, though no businesses are being forced to close.

The day after Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said he will not ask businesses to close, or to impose a statewide curfew or quarantine, Boyce echoed the same sentiments for Cobb County.

“I have no intention of asking the board [county commission] to get together to require businesses to close,” he said. “If we give you the facts as to what this virus does and what we need to do to mitigate it, you’ll take the necessary measures to do that.

“I don’t think we have to close businesses for business owners to see that they have to make necessary adjustments to do things like takeout service, or to spread out the distance between customers so they don’t interact with each other.

“If in fact we think the virus is transmitted in a way that requires us to totally close the businesses, that’s something the governor will probably institute, or the president of the United States.”

Boyce said they have access to more information than he does, and urged citizens to get behind them.

He also said Cobb parks will be remaining open. It’s one of the few components of county government that isn’t being closed or limited to due to “limited operations status” that went into effect on Wednesday.

“People are simply going to use those parks,” he said. “That’s just human nature. They’re going to get out of their houses, they’re getting cabin fever. They want to go somewhere, at least for a little while, where they can have some comfort.”

He said if something should happen at a park, “we would have a presence there” to address whatever the issue might be.

Cobb commissioners meetings for Monday and Tuesday have been postponed, and Cobb zoning meetings for April have been postponed to May.

Cobb’s positive Coronavirus case total is now at 47, with one of 14 deaths in the state, as Georgia’s case number jumped to 485, nearly 50 percent higher than Thursday.

As for testing for the Coronavirus locally, Boyce said Cobb doesn’t have the number of test kits available to match the number of people who may have the virus. He didn’t specify a figure.

In his update on Thursday, Kemp said the emphasis would be on testing elderly and ill citizens, those who’ve shown symptoms and health care and medical professionals.

Boyce urged Cobb citizens to “take personal responsibility” to mitigate the spread of the virus, including social distancing, staying home if they’re sick and following other hygiene guidelines.

He said starting Monday he would be working from a Cobb emergency management operations venue to coordinate responses to the Coronavirus outbreak.

Related stories

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Georgia Coronavirus cases grow to nearly 200; 28 in Cobb

by

Cobb Commissioners Coronavirus meeting

As the number of positive Coronavirus cases in Cobb County and Georgia grows, so do questions about the availability of test kits throughout the state.

Shortly after noon Wednesday, the Georgia Department of Public Health reported a big jump in the number of positive tests since Tuesday, from 146 to 197.

In Cobb, there are now 28 confirmed cases of Coronavirus, or COVID-19; there were 25 on Tuesday and 22 on Monday.

Also on Wednesday, two more deaths in Georgia were reported, patients at a hospital in Albany. The first death, a patient at WellStar Kennestone Hospital in Marietta, was reported on March 7.

According to Georgia Health News, no information on those new deaths was made available, but the report said around 300 people in the Albany area have been tested and are waiting for results.

The Georgia DPH daily status report shows that around 1,500 people have been tested in Georgia thus far, more than 1,000 in commercial labs and the rest by the DPH.

Cobb’s 28 positive tests are the second-most for any county in Georgia. Fulton has 49, followed by Bartow with 19 and DeKalb with 18.

The DPH isn’t breaking down how those with positive test results are contracting the virus, nor giving a county-by-county count on how many people are being tested.

On Wednesday, Cobb and Douglas Public Health began offering drive-up testing for pre-approved people in what it termed high-risk groups, including health care providers and first responders, as well as those deemed vulnerable to getting Coronavirus or who have shown symptoms.

Related stories

At Jim Miller Park, where that service was being made available, Cobb Commission Chairman Mike Boyce urged the public not to come to that location.

“We have a shortage of test kits,” he said in a videotaped message. “I don’t know how many are on the way, but I am sure of this. This is America. We’re going to produce those test kits.”

For now, he said, the available test kits need to go to those considered at the greatest risk for COVID-19.

“We’re going to have more people who have the virus in the county, that’s a guarantee,” he said.

He said those who are sick should stay home, and those who have mild symptoms should wait 72 hours. After that, they should contact their health care provider. Anyone who shows up at Jim Miller Park or other drive-up locations set up around Georgia by DPH and who has not been approved to be tested will be turned away.

Boyce also urged citizens not to got to a hospital and potentially overwhelm medical professionals there. He said he’s reluctant to declare a state of emergency if something like that were to happen: “I don’t want to use that option.”

The City of South Fulton was put under a state of emergency Wednesday afternoon, banning public gatherings of 10 or more and issuing a curfew. All non-essential businesses—beyond those serving medical and pharmaceutical needs—must close by 9 p.m. each day until further notice.

Residents there should also be in their homes between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Cobb County government has set up a COVID-19 resource hub and a hotline to call for questions at 844-442-2681.

More about COVID-19 here from Cobb and Douglas Public Health.

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Cobb government to go into ‘limited operations status’

by
Cobb County Chairman Boyce
Cobb Commission Chairman Boyce said mandating business closures would be a “last-step” measure. (ECN file)

Starting Wednesday, Cobb County government will transition to what’s being called “limited operations status,” closing most of its facilities to the public and having non-essential employees work from home.

The Cobb Board of Commissioners approved an emergency closure policy Monday at a special called meeting.

The commissioners also postponed their monthly zoning hearing, which was to have taken place on Tuesday. That has been pushed back to an indefinite date; an April 7 Cobb Planning Commission meeting and April 15 Board of Zoning Appeals meeting also have been postponed.

Department heads and public health officials updated commissioners about their preparations in response to the Coronavirus outbreak, which has hit Cobb County especially hard.

As of noon Monday, Cobb had 22 confirmed cases of Coronavirus, and Georgia’s total has risen to 121. Fulton has the most cases of any county in the state, with 27, followed by Cobb.

The new status for Cobb government goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday and will end when County Manager Rob Hosack deems it safe to do so.

Most lobbies in county government buildings that are open to the public will be closed. Departments that accept payments will be making arrangements to collect via other methods.

Here’s what else will be changing starting Wednesday, per a release issued by Cobb government:

  • Lobbies that must stay open will limit access to indoor spaces and require a six-foot buffer between employees and other patrons;
  • Libraries, senior centers and recreational facilities will remain closed throughout this period. Outdoor parks will remain accessible, and any restroom facilities at those parks will undergo cleaning at regular intervals;
  • Cobb County’s administration building at 100 Cherokee Street in Marietta will be closed to the public with access by essential employees only;
  • Cobb County courthouses will remain open to handle essential matters to ensure due process and to protect the community.

Department heads in Cobb government are to determine which employees are essential and which will be teleworking.

The zoning hearing agenda included 10 full cases to be heard, excluding consent items.

“These are public hearings and we can’t tell people to stay home,” commissioner JoAnn Birrell of Northeast Cobb said. “We’re denying them their due process to speak if they’re uncomfortable coming.”

Commissioner Bob Ott of East Cobb said he’s heard from individuals who feel the same way, and Chairman Mike Boyce said having a public meeting while the county government acts to restrict public access runs counter to efforts to mitigate the spread of the disease.

A motion to postpone the zoning hearing passed by a unanimous 5-0 vote.

Related stories

County services will continue to be provided, and Cobb public safety operations will continue to be fully staffed.

Also continuing is the Meals on Wheels program provided by Cobb Senior Services, according to William Tanks, Director of Public Services.

He was asked by Birrell about cleaning efforts at county facilities, which currently is done twice a year.

“This would be a good opportunity to do a deep cleaning,” he said.

Sharon Stanley, Director of Support Services, said senior centers are being cleaned daily, with a deep cleaning on the weekends and a “misting” of common areas.

Deep cleaning is being done when there’s a facility with a suspected exposure, as was the case last week at the West Cobb Regional Library.

She said that if there’s a confirmed exposure, a third-party vendor will perform a cleaning according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guidelines for Coronavirus.

When South Cobb Commissioner Lisa Cupid asked if there have been any confirmed cases at Cobb government facilities, Stanley said “we’ve had contacts” but no confirmed cases.

The Cobb Community Development Department is continuing with inspections but is sending code enforcement violations via mail and is delaying fines for business licenses not renewed on time.

At the end of the meeting, Boyce said he would be reluctant to act now on mandated closings of businesses.

“It’s something we don’t want to do, and we shouldn’t do it without close consultation”[from other commissioners],” he said.

Not long after he spoke, the mayor of Atlanta and DeKalb County CEO were considering mandates to close restaurants, as has been done in other states.

In East Cobb, some restaurant owners were offering additional delivery and pickup options and changing their opening hours.

The Georgia legislature on Monday approved measures in a special session to give Gov. Brian Kemp increased powers to address the Coronavirus outbreak, but he has not called for any mandated business closings.

On Saturday, he declared a public health emergency in Georgia.

Late Monday afternoon, Kemp signed an executive order mandating that public K-12 and secondary schools be closed until March 31.

Cobb schools announced last week it would be closing, starting Monday, until further notice.

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Cobb closing libraries, senior centers and other facilities

by

Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center, Cobb library hours expanding

Cobb government officials said Sunday evening they’re closing a number of county facilities, including libraries, senior centers and recreational and community centers, in response to the Coronavirus outbreak.

The closures will be effective Monday, and coincides with decisions by local school districts to close.

In a release, the county said that “county leaders will monitor the situation and listen to public health officials before deciding when to reopen these facilities.”

Cobb Public Services Director William Tanks said that “our public health partners have made it clear that increasing measures are needed to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. We thought it prudent to take this action. It is our belief that leaving these facilities open while schools are closed will defeat the purpose of impeding the spread of the Covid-19 virus.”

The closings won’t include outdoor parks, which “cannot be effectively closed off to the public and will remain open for use.”

County administrative, public safety and judicial buildings will remain open, and in the case of the latter only for essential court proceedings. Jury trials are being suspended for 30 days.

Cobb commissioners will meet at 1:30 p.m. Monday for an update on the county’s response to Coronavirus.

That meeting begins at 1:30 p.m. and can be seen on the county’s YouTube and Facebook pages and Website, and CobbTV, Channel 23 on Comcast cable.

Cobb’s confirmed case number is now 19, with Fulton leading the state with 20 cases.

The only death in Georgia thus far was a patient at WellStar Kennestone Hospital.

The Cobb County Public Library System put out its own announcement with more details, saying that patrons should not return items during the closure (including outside book drops).

Loan periods will be extended and fines will not accrue while the libraries are closed.

You can download e-books, magazines, streaming videos and other resources from Cobb libraries by clicking here.

Related stories

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Ott cancels town halls; Cobb announces Coronavirus measures

by

 

Bob Ott

Concerns over the Coronavirus outbreak have prompted Cobb government officials to cancel some events and announce other related measures.

Commissioner Bob Ott (above) said Wednesday afternoon that two upcoming town hall meetings he had scheduled in East Cobb are being cancelled “out of an abundance of caution.”

They were to have taken place next Tuesday at the Chestnut Ridge Christian Church and April 21 at the East Cobb Library.

Cobb Commission Chairman Mike Boyce has cancelled six upcoming SPLOST open houses for the rest of March, due to concerns over large crowds. The open houses began last week, and those scheduled for April and early May are still on for now, according to a release issued by the county Wednesday afternoon.

“Boyce considered this a prudent move based on concerns of residents and the desire to help staff focus primarily on protecting our community by handling other issues as they develop,” according to the county statement.

The West Cobb Library was closed Tuesday and remains closed until further notice after county officials said an employee there reported possibly being exposed to someone with a confirmed case of Coronavirus.

The county release said all senior centers, including the Tim D. Lee Center on Sandy Plains Road in East Cobb, will be cleaned on the weekends. Seniors are considered a high-risk group for contracting Coronavirus.

The county has issued travel guidelines for employees and established a task force that is meeting daily, composed of health, public safety and other administrators to address the continuing Coronavirus situation.

Related stories

More than 100 people from a cruise ship near San Francisco have been brought to Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Cobb to begin a 14-day quarantine period under the auspices of federal health officials.

Another plane with cruise ship passengers is expected to arrive at Dobbins shortly.

There are six confirmed cases of Coronavirus in Georgia, including one in Cobb County. That individual, who is in home isolation, recently traveled to Italy, which is on a nationwide lockdown and has had hundreds of Coronavirus-related deaths.

Late Tuesday, Gov. Brian Kemp said the number of “presumptive positive” cases of Coronavirus in Georgia has grown to 16, and Cobb County has the most, with six.

Presumptive positive cases are those that have been conducted by state health officials but still require confirmation by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

The county is asking anyone needing information or having questions about its Coronavirus response to visit its resource page or the CDC website.

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Cobb Planning Commission changes include new District 2 appointment

by
Galt Porter, Cobb Planning Commission
Galt Porter

Tony Waybright, a civic and school activist in the Smyrna/Vinings area, is the new District 2 appointee to the Cobb Planning Commission.

District 2 Commissioner Bob Ott formalized the appointment at Tuesday’s Cobb Board of Commissioners meeting.

The vacancy occurred when Planning Commission member Andy Smith of East Cobb resigned last week. He’s running for the District 2 seat after Ott announced his retirement last month.

Planning Commission members hearing zoning cases and make advisory recommendations to county commissioners.

District 2 includes some of East Cobb and the Smyrna/Cumberland/Vinings area.

Waybright is active in the Campbell High School Community, having served as a member and chairman of the school council and being involved with other school-related organizations.

He also was the CEO of the West Vinings Civic Association and has spoken before public bodies, including the Planning Commission and county commission, on behalf of the Oakdale Alliance, a civic group in the Smyrna area.

Waybright will begin his duties in April. The Planning Commission has another new member in Alice Summerour, a former member of the Cobb SPLOST Citizens Oversight Committee and a civic leader in Marietta. She was appointed by chairman Mike Boyce and began in February.

The five-member planning board, appointed by commissioners, also will have a new chairman.

Galt Porter, who has represented District 4 from South Cobb, will be the new chairman. He succeeds Judy Williams of Northeast Cobb, who has stepped aside as chairwoman but remains the District 3 member.

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Cruise passengers to be quarantined at Dobbins for Coronavirus

by

Another day, another Coronavirus update from Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who said Sunday morning that Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Cobb will be a quarantine venue for California cruise passengers as soon as Monday.Cobb coronavirus statement

He said after late briefings Saturday night, 34 Georgians and other passengers on the Grand Princess cruise ship are headed here, and that they will be “securely transferred.”

The release didn’t indicate how many more people will be coming beyond the 34, and how long they’ll be quarantined.

The ship was not allowed to port in San Francisco and was being detained offshore after two passengers were confirmed to have Coronavirus.

Related story

Cobb Commission Chairman Mike Boyce said Sunday he’s been in touch with the White House and the governor’s office about the arrival of the Grand Princess passengers and reiterated that “they are not people who have the virus.”

In a video presentation with several county health and public safety officials, Boyce said the Dobbins setup is “a contingency that has been planned for several weeks.”

Dr. Janet Memark, the Director of Cobb and Douglas Public Health, said the quarantine at Dobbins is a “low-risk operation” and added that 80 percent of those who have been diagnosed are having “very mild” health issues.

She urged citizens to stay home if they’re not sick or feeling well and to take other precautionary measures such as regular hand-washing.

She also said the Georgia Department of Public Health has set up a Coronavirus hotline for anyone with questions. They can call 866-782-4584 to get more information, and the agency has provided this information and prevention tip sheet.

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Cobb public health officials issue coronavirus statement

by

As the first cases of coronavirus in Georgia were revealed, the Cobb and Douglas Public Health Department has issued a statement about the outbreak.Cobb coronavirus statement

The alert was issued prior to a late-night press conference Monday by Gov. Brian Kemp confirming two cases of COVID-19 in Fulton County.

They’re a father and son, and one of them had traveled back recently from Milan, Italy, which is experiencing an outbreak of the virus.

During the press conference, state health officials said the two individuals were in home quarantine and in communication with their doctor.

More than 90,000 people have contracted coronavirus, a highly contagious illness, in nearly 80 countries around the world. More than 3,000 deaths have been reported, mostly in China.

The only deaths thus far in the U.S. have been in Washington State, where on Tuesday a ninth fatality was confirmed.

The Cobb/Douglas statement contains a basic explanation of the virus, along with preventative measures, such as thorough hand-washing, and that all testing is being done by the state at this time.

The statement said coronavirus spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and that symptoms appear between two and 14 days after exposure. They include:

  • runny nose
  • headache
  • cough
  • shortness of breath
  • fever
  • a general feeling of being unwell.

Here’s more about the local response, as the number of cases is expected to grow:

  • Cobb & Douglas Public Health (CDPH) is preparing internally, as well as with the state and the CDC to slow or prevent community spread. We are working with our partners, including the local governments, healthcare organizations, businesses, first responders, and local school districts to ensure our community is prepared for a potential COVID-19 outbreak.

  • We are reaching out to our county Boards of Health, emergency management agencies, chambers of commerce, and other partners who may need our guidance and are sending them guidance on how to prepare their organizations.

  • CDPH staff receive frequent updates from the CDC and the Georgia Department of Public Health. These updates include information on the current situation abroad and in the U.S., testing, surveillance, quarantine, and more. This helps shape our local response.

  • CDPH  has a previously-developed pandemic influenza plan that can serve as a template for responding to other outbreaks of severe respiratory disease, like COVID-19. We are reviewing our plan and are also prepared to implement specific COVID-19 guidance from the Georgia Department of Public Health and the CDC as the situation evolves.

The Cobb County School District last week sent out a notice about the coronavirus, including a statement from the Georgia Department of Public Health, as well as an updated FAQ Tuesday following the confirmation of the Georgia cases:

The District will continue to stay in constant communication with Georgia Department of Health officials and will follow their guidance every step of the way in order to keep our students and staff safe. Our schools continue to remind students and staff on how to prevent the spread of illness including hand washing, covering mouths when they cough, and keeping their hands away from their face. Parents are urged to keep students at home if they have any symptoms of sickness. 

Should a staff member or student become ill, Cobb Schools already has a reporting protocol in place regarding infectious diseases, which is part of the District’s Infectious Disease Response Plan. The District will use guidance from public health officials to update and apply the plan to respond to COVID-19.  

DPH has also issued guidance about the coronavirus, which was first diagnosed in December in Wuhan, China.

The federal Centers for Disease Control has issued its highest alerts for China and Iran, recommending against non-essential travel there, and that entry by foreign nationals from those countries has been suspended.

U.S. travelers are being advised against non-essential trips to South Korea and Italy, and older adults or those with chronic medical conditions not visit Japan.

More CDC coronavirus information can be found here.

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Cobb 2022 SPLOST draft project list released as open houses start

by
Cobb Fire Station 12
Replacing the aging Fire Station No. 12 near Shaw Park is included in the Cobb 2022 SPLOST draft list.

Public safety infrastructure in Cobb County would get a substantial overhaul if the Cobb Special-Purpose Local Option Sales Tax for county government (SPLOST) is renewed by voters later this year.

A draft project list for the six-year, $810 million 2022 SPLOST collection and other information has been released by the county as a schedule of 20 open houses gets underway Tuesday at the Piedmont Church in Northeast Cobb.

The open house takes place from 6-8 p.m. The church is located at 570 Piedmont Road. Citizens can view the proposed projects, offer feedback on them and ask county staff about them as well.

The SPLOST, if renewed, would succeed the current 2016 SPLOST, which expires on Dec. 31, 2021. The one-percent sales tax pays for a wide variety of government projects, including transportation, public safety, parks, libraries, information services, property management, community centers and senior services.

Each of Cobb’s six cities would also collect sales-tax funds for projects in their municipalities. The 2022 SPLOST would be collected through Dec. 31, 2027.

The draft list (you can read through it here and see an overview here) includes $18 million for renovating the former Lockheed Georgia Employees Credit Union building on Fairground Street in Marietta for a new Cobb Police headquarters, and for a new police training center and firing range.

That’s part of a $82 million tab to be spent on public safety under the 2022 SPLOST.

Another $24 million would be spent for renovating fire training facilities, and to build a new Fire Station No. 12 to replace the existing building on Brackett Road in Northeast Cobb, near Shaw Park.

Replacing radio public safety equipment would cost $16 million, and a new Cobb animal shelter is pegged at $15 million.

Replacing police vehicles and building a new E-911 center would come in at $10 million each.

The biggest chunk of SPLOST spending, nearly $361 million, would be for Cobb DOT projects, with $227 million for repavings alone, along with bridge repairs, traffic management, and sidewalk improvements countywide.

The principal traffic projects in East Cobb would be $3.9 million to improve the intersection of Holly Springs Road and Post Oak Tritt Road, $2.4 million for Canton Road corridor improvements, and $701,500 to improve the Shallowford Road-Gordy Parkway intersection.

Tritt property
The tree-shrouded home of Wylene Tritt next to East Cobb Park is located on nearly 30 acres the county has purchased for current greenspace. (ECN file)

In the category of what’s called “community impact projects” is a line item for the purchase of additional Tritt property next to East Cobb Park.

Last year, Cobb commissioners spent $8.3 million to buy 29.7 acres from Wylene Tritt, with the possibility of purchasing more.

She owns 54 acres that she had tentatively agreed to sell for a senior-living project that was denied by commissioners following community opposition.

Tritt and Isakson Living had agreed on a $20 million purchase price, and both later sued the county.

The SPLOST draft list line item indicates only “TBD” in a purchase price column next to “Acquire Tritt Property.”

Another $5 million would be dedicated to repurposing Shaw Park, and $3 million would go to construction of the new Ebenezer Downs Park in Northeast Cobb.

Another $24 million would be earmarked for Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, including a variety of renovations and upgrades at Sewell Park, Fullers Park, Terrell Mill Park, Hyde Farm, the Mountain View Aquatic Center, Noonday Creek Park and The Art Place.

Paving work would be included for East Cobb Park, Fullers Park and Terrell Mill Park and video surveillance cameras would be installed at several Cobb library branches, including the Mountain View Regional Library.

The Cobb County SPLOST Renewal Page has more information, including dates and times for the open houses.

In East Cobb, those events will be on April 1 at the East Cobb Library, April 14 at the Tim D. Lee Senior Center and May 5 at the Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center.

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Self-service car tag renewal kiosk opens in East Cobb

by

East Cobb Government Center, Cobb Police Precinct 4

Like several other locations in Cobb County, the Georgia Department of Revenue has opened a third self-service car tag renewal kiosk in East Cobb.

The kiosk is located at the East Cobb Government Service Center (4400 Roswell Road), near the Cobb tag office located there.

It’s open from 6 a.m. to midnight daily, and motorists who need to renew their tags can do so quickly, with the following requirements:

  • A vehicle must be registered in a county with self-service availability;
  • A motorist must have a valid Georgia State driver’s license;
  • A motorist’s address must be correct on the renewal notice;
  • A motorist must have proof of liability insurance on file;
  • A motorist must have a vehicle emission inspection form.

Georgia DOR has installed similar kiosks in Cobb at the Cobb tag office (2932 Canton Road), which is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, and at the Shallowford Falls Kroger (3162 Johnson Ferry Road), which is open from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily.

After a customer’s renewal is approved, the machine prints new tags.

For more on the self-service kiosk centers, click here.

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!