The Davis Direction Foundation, a Marietta-based addiction recovery non-profit, is holding a substance abuse prevention event, “Beyond the End Zone,” in East Cobb and virtually on Thursday.
The event is from 5-7 p.m. in the conference center at Piedmont Church (570 Piedmont Road) and will feature two guests from the football world.
They are Heisman Award Winner George Rogers, who will be in person to share his story of recovery (and the trophy will be there too!), as well as Las Vegas Raiders player Darren Waller doing the same via Zoom.
The $25 cost per ticket includes a BBQ dinner and auction and proceeds will benefit the foundation’s programs (more details here, and ticket purchases here).
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This season, a flu vaccine is more important than ever. Cobb and Douglas Public Health staff urges you to get an annual influenza vaccination to reduce the chance of getting the flu and spreading it to others during this critical COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the CDC, getting a flu vaccine is not only important because it protects yourself, your family and your community from flu, but a flu vaccine this season can also help reduce the burden on our healthcare systems responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
To decrease the chance of getting the flu simultaneously with COVID-19, it is imperative that our community get vaccinated with the flu vaccine.
“We want everyone to be properly protected from the flu, so we are encouraging community members to either call us to make an appointment or to walk in to one of our convenient health center locations,” Priti Kolhe, CDPH district immunization director, said.
CDPH Immunization Clinic staff is offering annual flu vaccines to everyone six months and older at the Acworth, Marietta, Douglasville and Smyrna Public Health Center locations. CDPH staff is also offering onsite vaccinations to local businesses and community events for groups of 20 or more people.
Recommendations for Senior Patients: In addition to the flu vaccine, CDPH staff also recommends pneumonia shots for anyone over 65 years old, or anyone with a chronic illness or weakened immune system. Medicare pays for the flu and pneumonia vaccines. The shingles vaccine is also recommended for anyone over 50 years of age.
For more information about the flu vaccine or to schedule an appointment, call 770-514-2300 or visit cobbanddouglaspublichealth.org.
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Cobb citizens wanting to get tested for COVID-19 for free have a larger window to do that.
Cobb and Douglas Public Health has increased the hours to get a free test at Jim Miller Park. Anyone can go to Jim Miller Park (2245 Callaway Road) between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday-Friday or 7 a.m. to noon on Saturday.
Cobb and Douglas Public Health has been offering pop-up testing at several other locations in the county, including both campuses of Kennesaw State University.
Testing will take place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at the main campus in Kennesaw in the old BrandsMart parking lot 93305 Busbee Drive, NW, Kennesaw).
On Friday and Saturday, testing will be done at KSU’s Marietta campus (643 Clair Harris Road), also from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
You’re asked to pre-register first, and you can do that and get more information by clicking here.
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Dr. Zachary Levin of Levin Orthodontics (1229 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 100) sends word that his practice will be having a Red Cross blood drive Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
He said the anyone in the public is invited and that there will be medical-grade infection control, free parking and refreshments.
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Let East Cobb News know what your organization is doing, or share news about what people are doing in the community—accomplishments, recognitions, milestones, etc.
That includes community events, which have been rare since the COVID-19 outbreak. But if you’ve got a virtual event that’s open to the public, please tell us about that too.
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Wellstar Health System, one of Georgia’s largest and most integrated healthcare systems, is inviting the community to attend its first-ever Wellstar Foundation virtual gala and interactive online fundraiser on Aug. 1, from 6 to 7 p.m. WSB-TV award-winning anchor Fred Blankenship will serve as the emcee of the Wellstar Starlight Grand Gala and joins celebrities, community members and healthcare heroes in raising vital donations for the Wellstar Foundation’s COVID-19 relief fund. Sponsored by ApolloMD and Bank of America, the benefit will feature performances, a live silent auction and wine wall, and a virtual photo booth.
“Our hope is to make the virtual gala just as fun as our annual live event is each year, with the bonus of being able to invite and engage with many more people on the online platform,” said Lisa Mello, Wellstar Foundation director of Strategic Giving. “What a unique opportunity to share how donations to the Wellstar Foundation are helping make Georgia well, now and in the future!”
The initial line-up of performers includes rock singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer Michelle Malone; Atlanta Braves opera singer Timothy Miller; and country music group Brian Collins Band. Attendees will also enjoy heartfelt messages from celebrities and community members showing appreciation to Wellstar team members for working on the frontlines throughout the pandemic.
The COVID-19 relief fund supports Wellstar’s 11 hospitals, six health parks, pediatric centers, hospice facilities, and other medical offices. The fund also offers supplies and educational materials to members of the community, procures tablets that connect patients with loved ones, and provides aid to Wellstar team members in need due to the pandemic.
There are multiple ways to participate during the virtual event that include wine wall purchases starting at $25, a silent auction featuring exciting experiences, and the opportunity to donate directly to the COVID-19 relief fund. As a not-for-profit, Wellstar relies on community support to fund hospital enhancements, community programs, and resources for individuals in need. Contributions to the Wellstar Foundation support our vision of delivering world-class healthcare to everyone in our service area.
The virtual gala is free and open to anyone who would like to attend. Register now by visiting wellstar.org/gala.
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At the new Wellstar Kennestone Hospital Emergency Department ribbon-cutting on July 16 are, L-R: Otis Brumby III, Wellstar Health System Board of Trustees Chair; First Lady of Georgia Marty Kemp; Governor of Georgia Brian P. Kemp; Candice L. Saunders, president and CEO of Wellstar Health System; and Mary Chatman, EVP of Wellstar Health System and president of Wellstar Kennestone and Windy Hill Hospitals.
On Thursday the new $126 million Wellstar Kennestone Emergency Center opens to the public, more than two years after construction began.
Last week Gov. Brian Kemp was on-hand for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the 263,000-square-foot facility, which can handle up to 600 patients a day and 220,000 patients a year.
Here are a few of the features of the new center:
Separate entrances and wings for pediatric and adult patients
A new, streamlined care initiation intake process
Private exam rooms instead of curtain dividers, with adjacent PPE don/doff rooms
Flexible spaces equipped to treat both high and low acuity cases
Planned spaces and processes for de-escalation, isolation and decontamination for patients who present with infectious disease, behavioral health, or chemical contamination issues
A second floor dedicated to behavioral health with 12 beds for specialized behavioral health and crisis intervention services
Three separate ambulance bays for different levels of patient severity, with parking for up to 17 ambulances
14 negative pressure rooms
Direct access to the high acuity/trauma care area from the rooftop helipad via an elevator
Improved vehicular access for patients and emergency vehicles, and an on-site underground parking garage for patient drop-off
Imaging rooms directly adjacent to trauma rooms
Additional critical care equipment, technology and more
The new center is one of three Level II trauma centers in metro Atlanta, and has 170 parking spaces. Access is from Cherokee Street. More information can be found here.
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A salute to health care workers at the entrance to East Cobb Health Park.
Submitted info:
The Cobb2020 Partnership and the Cobb Chamber, sponsor an annual Health Hero Award recognizing qualified individuals and agencies who, through outstanding, significant and innovative activities and accomplishments, have made a significant positive impact on the health of the Cobb community.
Each year, the efforts of one individual and one business to improve and support community health and healthcare infrastructure are awarded. Through the first half of 2020, hundreds of Health Heroes have stepped up to assist local businesses and the community during the COVID-19 pandemic, displaying strong determination to protect employees and ensuring people have what they need to continue to work, live and play safely.
To be considered for the award, prospective nominees must:
Provide health and wellness services, support health issues, or support the healthcare workforce in Cobb County;
Currently live or work in Cobb County. Organizations must have a location in Cobb County; and
Be a member of the Cobb Chamber.
The application deadline is July 17th. Apply at cobbchamber.org/healthhero. The award will be presented during the Cobb Chamber’s Healthcare & Biotech Industry Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, September 8th, 2020 from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Wellstar Vinings Health Park.
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Pass along your details to: editor@eastcobbnews.com, and please observe the following guidelines to ensure we get everything properly and can post it promptly:
Send the body of your announcement, calendar item or news release IN TEXT FORM ONLY in the text field of your e-mail template. Reformatting text from PDF, JPG and doc files takes us longer to prepare your message for publication.
We accept PDFs as an accompaniment to your item. Images are fine too, but we prefer those to be JPG files (more than jpeg and png). PLEASE DO NOT send photos inside a PDF or text or any other kind of file. Of course, send us links that are relevant to your message so we can direct people to your website.
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U.S. Army Black Daggers parachuters get a salute from the crowd after their salute to WellStar East Cobb Health Park workers Wednesday. (ECN photos and videos).
A few hundred people filled the parking lot at WellStar East Cobb Health Park Wednesday afternoon and looked up to some forbidding clouds.
The rain held off long enough for parachuters from the U.S. Army’s Black Daggers special operations unit to jump from a plane, twist around in the skies and land on a narrow strip of grass between the health park building and a busy Roswell Road.
It was part of a salute to health care workers at the East Cobb facility and earlier Wednesday at WellStar Kennestone Hospital, which announced its new 166-bed emergency and trauma center would open on July 23.
Based in Fort Bragg, N.C., the Black Daggers stayed around for a while to have their pictures taken with medical workers and members of the public. You can read more about the Black Daggers here.
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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 YouTubeand 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.
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Some readers have wondered why there isn’t more information than raw numbers being reported, and that simply putting out those numbers alone is just alarming people.
We’re not trying to do that, but passing along the information that is being provided.
Some of the Georgia DPH updates have included how those people testing positive for the disease may have gotten it—travel overseas, etc.—but the figures in those daily status reports don’t contain that.
When we get more of those details, we will include them, and will try to explain them and put them into context as best we can. Bear with this; this is new and uncharted territory for government agencies, health experts, the public, the news media and everyone else, and it’s fast-moving.
Our purpose isn’t to do a daily report with just the new case numbers and nothing else, but to illustrate how fast that total is climbing, and what public health officials and government agencies are doing in response.
As the number of people being tested grows, so will the number of confirmed cases. We still aren’t being told how many people are being tested in Georgia, only that state health labs have the capacity to process 100 specimens a day.
The goal by the end of that week is 200 specimens a day, but without a better understanding of how widespread the testing is, those numbers don’t mean much.
There’s still so much about Coronavirus that we don’t understand and are trying to grapple with on the fly. At East Cobb News we do a lot of real-time reporting and updates and have every intent to expand on the raw numbers and latest developments.
Our main objective is help our community better understand what is happening, and how to navigate what’s becoming a dramatic new normal for all of us, and for some time to come.
Per Gov. Brian Kemp’s address on Saturday, Georgia is in a public health emergency. He has asked the legislature to convene Monday for a special session to ratify executive orders to address the crisis, including calling up the Georgia National Guard.
Also on Monday, the Cobb Board of Commissioners will be holding a special meeting to be briefed on the county’s response. That meeting begins at 1:30 p.m. and can be seen on the county’s YouTubeand Facebook pages and Website, and CobbTV, Channel 23 on Comcast cable.
We’ll be reporting on that, and in the coming days we’ll be updating other community responses, including how you can help those in need during this crisis, what’s happening to those people who think they may have Coronavirus, how local businesses are faring and how citizens, families and organizations are practicing “social distancing.”
If you have any questions, suggestions or news tips related to covering Coronavirus as it affects us here in East Cobb and the larger Cobb community, please get in touch: editor@eastcobbnews.com.
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Georgia’s response to the Coronavirus outbreak has prompted a delay in the state’s presidential primary.
Early voting has been underway since March 2 for the March 24 primary, which has now been pushed back to May 19.
That announcement was made Saturday by Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (here’s his full statement).
May 19 is the date of Georgia’s general primary, which includes all other federal, state and local candidates.
“Events are moving rapidly and my highest priority is protecting the health of our poll workers, their families, and the community at large,” Raffensperger said. “Given these circumstances, I believe it is necessary and prudent to suspend the voting in the Presidential Preference Primary, and the local elections associated with them, and roll them into the already scheduled May 19 General Primary.”
Raffensperger said early voting would be halted for now.
He said one of the main concerns is conducting elections with a high number of poll workers 70 and older, and who are considered in a high-risk group because of their age.
On Saturday, Louisiana’s presidential primary, scheduled for April 4, was delayed to June 20.
The decision to delay the Georgia presidential primary came hours after Gov. Brian Kemp declared a public health emergency in the state. He also issued an executive order to call up as many as 2,000 Georgia National Guard troops in response to the situation.
Georgia’s positive tests for Coronavirus jumped from 42 on Friday to 66 Saturday; and Cobb’s nearly doubled in that time, from 8 to 15, the highest number of cases for any county in the state.
Cobb also has Georgia’s only Coronavirus-related death, a 67-year-old man who was being treated at WellStar Kennestone Hospital and had other medical issues.
Early voting in Cobb was to have expanded beyond the Cobb Elections main office in Marietta next week, including polling locations at the East Cobb Government Service Center, the Tim D. Lee Senior Center and Noonday Baptist Church.
Early voting did take place Saturday at the East Cobb Government Service Center, located on Lower Roswell Road.
According to Cobb Elections, 8,223 people have voted in Cobb during the early voting period through Thursday, 6,623 in the Democratic primary, and 1,600 in the Republican primary.
Another 5,461 absentee ballots have been issued, with 2,367 returned. Most of those ballots also have been Democratic.
Incumbent President Donald Trump is the only name on the Georgia GOP ballot, and former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders are the only remaining major candidates still vying for the Democratic nomination.
Since winning the South Carolina primary on Feb. 29, Biden has won 14 other state primaries, including North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee, and leads Sanders 890-736 in the delegate count.
The Georgia ballot includes several candidates who have suspended their campaigns, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar, former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Klobuchar, Buttigieg and Bloomberg have endorsed Biden.
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Gov. Brian Kemp said that the number of Coronavirus cases in Georgia jumped from 42 on Friday to 64 Saturday morning, and that Cobb County has the highest number of cases in the state.
UPDATE: That number is now at 66.
That’s the single-biggest 24-hour increase in Coronavirus cases that have been recorded thus far.
Cobb’s 15 positive Coronavirus cases nearly doubled overnight, from the eight cases that had been reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health on Friday.
Cobb also has the only Coronavirus-related death in Georgia, a 67-year-old man with other medical issues who was being treated at WellStar Kennestone Hospital.
In prepared remarks read from his ceremonial office Saturday morning, Kemp declared a public health emergency in Georgia and called an emergency session of the General Assembly to meet at 8 a.m. Monday to ratify his executive order.
He also said he would ask legislators for $100 million in emergency funding to battle the spread of Coronavirus, mostly for public health and emergency operations.
His measures also would authorize DPH to direct actions “in extraordinary situations” to combat the viral disease, and would allow nurses from other states to be certified to assist in Georgia.
He also wants to lift regulations on truckers to streamline deliveries of food and other daily living supplies to stores.
His proposals would allow him to suspend laws and regulations and take over civil forces, even mandating evacuations.
Kemp’s actions follow a national state of emergency declared Friday by President Donald Trump, who’s calling for $50 billion for emergency Coronavirus measures.
In calling the present crisis an “unprecedented” situation, Kemp repeated calls for Georgians to take preventative measures to stall the spread of Coronavirus and enable the work of public health, emergency and medical professionals.
Earlier this week he called for the closures of schools. On Saturday, he urged churches and faith communities to cancel worship services or hold them online, and is asking Georgia employers to consider teleworking options.
“Georgians need to incorporate social distancing into their everyday lives,” Kemp said. Otherwise we risk a run on critical resources for the sickest patients in our state. Now is the time to act.”
Kemp said Georgia health labs are currently processing around 100 Coronavirus test specimens a day, and he wants to be able to double that figure to 200 by the end of the week.
Georgia Coronavirus cases by County
Cobb—15
Fulton—13
DeKalb—8
Bartow—7
Cherokee—5
Fayette—4
Floyd—3
Gordon, Coweta, Gwinnett—2
Lee, Henry, Lowndes, Polk, Charlton—1
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The Cobb County School District announced late Thursday that all classes and activities will be cancelled starting on Monday as the second-largest school district in Georgia will be closing due to the Coronavirus outbreak “until further notice.”
The decision was announced at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, not long after Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp urged public school districts and the state’s public universities to close for two weeks.
He said at a press conference that it wouldn’t be a mandate.
Marietta City Schools and Atlanta Public Schools announced Thursday that those systems would be closing for two weeks, also starting on Monday.
The Walker School announced earlier Thursday it would be closing, and East Cobb private schools Mt. Bethel Christian Academy and Eastside Christian School also are closing, in accordance with CCSD.
The Georgia General Assembly was also suspending the current legislative session.
Those closures comes on the same day that the state announced the first Georgia Coronavirus-related death, a 67-year-old man at WellStar Kennestone Hospital in Marietta.
The Cobb schools announcement reads as follows, and this story will be updated:
The school closures include all school building activities, athletics/sports, extracurricular school activities, and trips.
While our school buildings will be closed, the education process will not stop. All staff will work remotely to best support students, including delivering digital and physical instructional resources to students while they’re at home.
We know that you may have questions regarding how the school closure will impact you, and we will work to provide you the answers.
We will continue to keep our community updated on the next steps during the school closure process as we turn to our digital learning resources.
More information will be communicated on Friday, March 13 to all our families and staff. Please continue to stay updated on www.cobbk12.org/covid/.
If you have any Coronavirus-related cancellations, changes or news to share with the East Cobb community, let us know. E-mail us: editor@eastcobbnews.com and we’ll include it in future posts.
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All programs and events at Cobb library branches are cancelled until the end of March.
A wide variety of cancellations and other measures relating to the Coronavirus response have been announced on Thursday in Cobb County.
The Walker School, a private school on Cobb Parkway and Allgood Road, announced Thursday it would be closing Friday “until further notice.”
A message released by the school said there were no Coronavirus cases there, but said the decision was made “based on our top priority to protect the health and safety of our students, families and employees and by our communal responsibility to slow the spread of COVID-19.”
Friday and Monday are professional development days for faculty and staff at Walker, which has nearly 900 K-12 students.
The Walker message further stressed, in all bold lettering, that “school closures will not be effective unless they are accompanied by social distancing strategies.”
Georgia’s first death due to Coronavirus was a 67-year-old man who had been treated at WellStar Kennestone Hospital in Marietta.
State health officials said the man had other medical issues, and people like that, along with the elderly, are high-risk for contracting Coronavirus.
At The Solana East Cobb, a new senior living facility on Johnson Ferry Road, no visitors are permitted until further notice, with only limited exceptions or in the case of an emergency.
Health care providers coming there will be screened before being allowed on the premises, and residents must remain on the grounds except to receive medical care.
United Military Care, a veterans’ assistance organization on Old Canton Road, said Thursday that they aren’t taking walk-in clients for the time being since some of them are older and have “fragile medical conditions.”
A veteran with an emergency can contact the agency at 770-973-0014 and leave a voicemail with a return telephone number. UMC’s e-mail address is info@unitedmilitarycare.org.
“Our Veterans are precious to us; We do not want to facilitate the transmission of any potentially harmful viruses to those with underlying medical conditions or weakened immune systems,” said a UMC message.
“Please listen to medical experts on how to manage this virus and do not fall prey to rumors and unfounded nonsense.”
Faith communities respond
Several places of worship in East Cobb are communicating with their members about precautions they’re taking.
Starting Sunday at the East Cobb Church of Christ, “we will not be passing anything during communion.” Instead, worshippers can pick up a container when they enter that has a wafer and plastic cup of juice. “These will be used during communion until the fear of virus is over.” the church’s message stated. “Members will deposit the used cups in the holders on the back of the pews.”
Collection plates also will not be passed around, but will be available for deposits in the front foyer. The church is also making available sanitized wipes at various entries.
In his press conference Thursday, Gov. Kemp asked that elderly people not attend worship services for the time being.
Library events cancelled
The Cobb County Public Library System announced that starting Friday and continuing through the end of March, all programs and events at its branches will be cancelled.
This weekend’s Cobb Library Foundation book sale at the Cobb Civic Center and Census events at libraries also have been called off.
School events on hold
Some East Cobb schools have cancelled extracurricular events.
Thursday’s Magnet Accepted Student Showcase at Wheeler High School was cancelled. There are no known Coronavirus cases at Wheeler, but the decision was cautionary.
So was the cancellation of the March Madness Parents Night Out March 26 at Lassiter High School. The event was for parents to see a showing of the Lassiter Drama Club’s production of “Sweeney Todd,” while students entertained their kids.
A forum for candidates running for Post 5 on the Cobb Board of Education is still on, and will take place Sunday afternoon at Pope High School.
For those who can’t go due to self-isolation or other issues, a recording will be available later at this link.
Questions may be submitted as late as 10 p.m. Saturday by e-mailing popehscouncil@gmail.com.
Absentee ballot applications
Cobb Elections is encouraging voters concerned about Coronavirus to apply for an absentee ballot, which will be mailed to your home.
Complete an absentee ballot application at CobbElections.org, print it out and send an attached image of the application and e-mail it to: absentee@cobbcounty.org.
Send us your news!
If you have any Coronavirus-related cancellations, changes or news to share with the East Cobb community, let us know. E-mail us: editor@eastcobbnews.com and we’ll include it in future posts.
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Gov. Brian Kemp said Thursday afternoon that Georgia’s first Coronavirus death was a man who had been at WellStar Kennestone Hospital.
The man, who was 67 years old, tested positive for the virus on March 7, and had underlying medical conditions, according to a statement issued by the governor’s office and the Georgia Department of Health.
“Marty, the girls, and I are praying for the family and loved ones of this individual during this incredibly difficult time,” Kemp said in the statement. “I know the medical professionals on site did everything that they could, and I greatly appreciate their efforts. As our state continues to address this pandemic, I urge Georgians to remain calm and support their neighbors and communities. We are in this fight together.”
Older people and those with medical conditions are considered at high-risk for contracting Coronavirus, which has claimed more than 4,600 lives, around 40 in the United States, and infected more than 125,000 people in nearly 100 countries.
Those in those high-risk groups—including people with heart disease, diabetes, and lung disease—are being asked to prepare to stay at home for an extended time to limit their exposure to the virus.
Georgia DPH is recommending that they have two weeks’ worth of household items, groceries, water and extra supplies of medications.
The agency also urged all Georgians to continue to take preventatiive measures, including regularly washing hands with soap and warm water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, avoid close contact with people who are sick and staying home if sick.
Citizens are also asked to regularly clean and disinfect objects and surface they frequently use.
On Wednesday the Georgia Department of Health updated its Coronavirus statistics to indicate 31 presumed or confirmed cases of the viral disease in the state.
Of those cases, 12 are confirmed, and 19 are presumed positive.
Cobb County has the most overall cases in Georgia, with a total of nine of the 31. There has been a second confirmed case in the county, while six more are presumed positive.
Presumed positive cases require confirmation by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
An individual at Kincaid Elementary School has tested positive for Coronavirus, prompting a 14-day shutdown and cleaning of the school, starting today.
UPDATED, 2 P.M.:
WellStar Health System sent out this message:
Out of an abundance of caution for current concerns about COVID-19, Wellstar has assembled a team of infectious disease and infection prevention specialists from across Wellstar Health System who communicate daily to stay up to date on the latest developments and prepare for patient care.
All of our Wellstar’s facilities are open and operating under normal business hours.
Additionally, for the health and safety of our patients/team members, and following CDC guidelines, Wellstar has begun screening visitors at all of our locations for symptoms related to COVID-19, effective immediately.
Visitors should expect to have their temperature taken, have any potential symptoms reviewed, and will be asked about their travel history. Visitors who do not pass the screening will be requested to refrain from visiting patients until they have been self-quarantined for 14 days or all symptoms have been resolved. No visitors will be allowed for people who have tested positive for COVID-19 or who have recently traveled from regions with widespread community spread of the disease. This process is temporary and is designed to limit the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.
Although there is still a very low risk for people to contract the virus, Wellstar is well-prepared to meet the healthcare needs of the communities we serve.
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The Cobb County School District said Wednesday it is closing Kincaid Elementary School in Northeast Cobb for 14 days, starting Thursday, due to a positive case of Coronavirus at the school.
The district statement did not indicate if the individual is a student, teacher or staff member at the school, and said it would not discuss specifics due to federal privacy laws and at the request of the Georgia Department of Public Health.
Nan Kiel, a district spokeswoman, said that within 48 hours of the closure at Kincaid, ”Cobb staff will thoroughly clean and sanitize the entire campus, including buses.”
She said that no other Cobb schools will be closed at this time. The Kincaid closure is the first in the Cobb district, which has 112 schools and is the second largest school districg in Georgia with nearly 112,000 students.
Kincaid is in the Sprayberry High School cluster, and other feeder schools include Daniell Middle School, Simpson Middle School, Dodgen Middle School and Walton High School.
In its statement Cobb schools didn’t mention whether other schools in the cluster or feeder schools that use the same buses as those serving Kincaid may be affected.
Kiel said that Kincaid students will be getting online instruction from their teachers “using a variety of digital platforms and tools.”
Piedmont Church in Northeast Cobb, whose members include families in the nearby Kincaid attendance zone, cancelled its Wednesday night activities.
Fulton County schools, with 94,000 students, have been closed since Tuesday due to a positive case of Coronavirus of a teacher at one of its schools. All but two schools in that district—two middle schools in south Fulton—will be open on Thursday.
More than 125,000 cases have been confirmed around the world, and more than 4,600 deaths, around half of those in China.
In the U.S., more than 1,100 cases have been confirmed, with 37 deaths, 24 alone in Washington state. Georgia has six confirmed cases, including one in Cobb. The number of “presumptive positive” tests has grown to 16, with six in Cobb.
Those test results still must be confirmed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
More than 100 passengers of a cruise liner off the coast of San Francisco have been flown to Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Cobb for quarantine, and more are expected. Cobb officials have said none of those individuals have tested positive for Coronavirus.
Also on Wednesday, changes were made involving many sporting events around North America. Among them are the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, which will be played, but fans other than family members will be banned.
The men’s Final Four scheduled for the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta April 3-5 may be relocated to a smaller arena in the metro area.
The popular St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Savannah also has been cancelled.
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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.
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.
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Fields at Fullers Park, where the East Side Baseball Association plays. (East Cobb News photos by Wendy Parker)
Rainy weather postponed the start of the spring season for the East Side Baseball Association, but concerns over the Coronavirus outbreak have prompted the organization to put a hold on its opening day celebrations for now.
President Marc Glickman told East Cobb News that this wasn’t a typical opening day event, but was a celebration to mark East Side Baseball’s 50th anniversary.
The event was to have taken place this Saturday, after weather issues postponed it last weekend. The opening day event, he said, typically draws several hundred people.
“We’re still playing baseball games, but we felt it was the right decision,” he said. “We didn’t take it lightly, and it was a difficult decision, but we don’t have to have that ceremony to play baseball.”
The celebration was to have taken place at Fullers Park. East Side Baseball has between 700 to 800 youths from ages 4-16 who play there in various recreation and travel leagues.
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 three new individuals in Cobb County who are presumptive positive cases are hospitalized, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health. One of the Cobb individuals has a travel history outside the U.S.; the other sources of infection are unknown.
The West Cobb Library was closed Tuesday after county officials said an employee there reported possibly being exposed to someone with a confirmed case of Coronavirus.
County spokesman Ross Cavitt said the library worker was sent home and the library branch, located on Dennis Kemp Lane in Kennesaw, is undergoing a deep cleaning remains closed for the time being.
County officials said Tuesday they’re forming a Coronavirus task force to coordinate preparations for a possible shutdown of county government. The plans would call for some county employees to work remotely and other considerations would include child care arrangements in the case of school closures and safety measures for first responders.
A child care center in Acworth also was closed after a teacher there had a presumptive positive test.
In a note to East Side parents sent earlier this week, Glickman said that “while the odds of contracting the virus remain extremely low, moving forward with a gathering event that is not considered essential to the main purpose of our league does not feel like the right thing to do. Our focus at this point in time as it relates to ESBA is to try to play as much baseball as we can and that’s what we will plan to do.”
Games have begun, and Glickman said a no-handshake policy is going into effect after games. Parents are being allowed to visit dugouts during games to wipe down their kids’ equipment and gear.
He said he’s received “very favorable feedback” from parents about the precautionary measures and that nobody’s pulled their children out due to concerns about Coronavirus.
The 50th anniversary celebration was to have included music, food, raffle prizes and other festivities. Glickman said a decision about whether to have that event will be made at a later time.
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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.
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.
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.
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Calls from public health officials to wash hands and keep counter surfaces clean have prompted a run on handwipes, including this Publix in East Cobb. (ECN photo)
Gov. Brian Kemp said Saturday that three additional cases of Coronavirus have been confirmed in Georgia, including the first in Cobb County.
The governor’s office sent out a news release Saturday morning saying that the state’s confirmed cases now total five, following the first two confirmations earlier this week.
According to Saturday’s release, the Cobb County patient was diagnosed after returning from a trip to Italy, and is in isolation at home.
Another new case concerns an individual who is hospitalized, with an unclear source of exposure.
Those two individuals were tested by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
State officials also are awaiting further results from a possible positive test for Coronavirus, or COVID-19, in Gwinnett County. The Georgia Department of Public Health also confirmed it tested an individual diagnosed with Coronavirus in Floyd County, and that patient also is in the hospital, according to Saturday’s release.
The release (you can read it here) did not indicate how many individuals have been tested in Georgia. It did state that “the overall risk of COVID-19 to the general public remains low and there is no evidence of community spread of COVID-19 in Georgia at this time.”
Coronavirus is a highly contagious viral disease that originated in Wuhan, China and was first identified in December.
Since then, it’s spread across the globe to more than 80 countries, with more than 100,000 confirmed cases and more than 3,000 deaths.
Most of those have been in China, but South Korea, Japan, Iran and Italy also have been inundated with cases and fatalities.
As of Saturday morning, 17 deaths have occurred in the United States, including two in Florida. Those were the first deaths in the Eastern U.S.; the majority of deaths and cases has been in the Seattle area.
The Cobb and Gwinnett cases were like the first Georgia cases, following travel to Italy. Nearly 200 people have died in Italy from Coronavirus, including nearly 50 in a 24-hour period, and there are nearly 5,000 confirmed cases there.
On Friday, President Donald Trump visited the CDC headquarters in Atlanta, after initially cancelling the trip.
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