East Cobb Health & Wellness Archives

Cobb COVID-19 vaccinations start Thursday at Jim Miller Park

January 11, 2021January 5, 2021 by Wendy Parker

Cobb coronavirus statement

UPDATED MONDAY, Jan. 11: The Cobb and Douglas Public Health COVID appointment page crashed Monday morning, due to “overwhelming response.” We’ll update when the page comes back online.

ORIGINAL POST

Cobb and Douglas Public Health announced Tuesday that COVID-19 vaccinations will be available for residents according to a priority list starting Thursday at Jim Miller Park.

The vaccinations will be administered by appointment only, and starting Thursday only for those eligible under Phase 1A—healthcare workers on the front lines. Here’s what the health agency is saying about those in that group:

“A vaccination appointment system has been created exclusively for Phase 1A participants and they will receive an email from CDPH on how to register after they complete the enrollment form. Participants in Group 1A will be asked for proof of healthcare personnel status and priority will be given to Cobb and Douglas County residents.”

Starting Tuesday, Jan. 12, those in Phase 1A+ will be able to get vaccinations. Those include public safety workers and any individuals age 65 and older. Cobb and Douglas Public Health said it will open an appointment system on Monday on its website.

For both of those groups, here’s how the vaccinations will take place:

“Participants will be asked to remain on-site for 15 minutes for post-vaccination observation. No walk-up appointments are available—participants must remain in their vehicle to receive the vaccine and be accessible to clinical staff providing the shot.”

Jim Miller Park is located at 2245 Callaway Road, Marietta. It’s been a full-time COVID-19 testing location for Cobb and Douglas Public Health since April and is conducting tests there and at other locations in Cobb; you can sign up to get tested by clicking here.

More vaccine information from CDPH can be found here.

Shortly before Christmas, Cobb and Douglas Public Health workers received the Moderna vaccine as part of an initial shipment of more than 150,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses to Georgia.

Private and other health care providers are also preparing to administer the vaccine starting next week.

Cobb and Douglas Public Health workers get Moderna vaccine

December 23, 2020 by Wendy Parker

Cobb Douglas Public Health Moderna vaccine — *CDPH staff member Nicholas Hayes administers COVID-19 vaccine at the Marietta Public Health Center.*

Submitted information and photo:

Cobb & Douglas Public Health (CDPH) has received the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and began providing vaccinations to staff wishing to be vaccinated on the CDPH Marietta campus. This will be followed by vaccine administration to district healthcare personnel working on the front lines of the pandemic, and residents of local long-term care facilities, starting this week.

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, as of Dec. 22, more than 125,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and more than 30,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine have been shipped to Georgia.

Janet Memark, MD, District Health Director said, “After 10 very long months of fighting this virus on the front lines, CDPH is so excited to be able to provide some protection to our district healthcare workers so that they can continue to serve our residents while also protecting themselves and their families.”

A spokeswoman for Cobb and Douglas Public health could not say how many doses were administered, and to how many employees, but said the vaccinations will continue for frontline workers this week.

Doses of the Moderna vaccine also will go to organizations like CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort), which partners with CDPH to conduct COVID testing.

She said other doses will be distributed “to independent healthcare providers who have not secured their own supply.”

Cobb COVID-19 community spread numbers reach highest levels

December 30, 2020December 22, 2020 by Wendy Parker

Cobb COVID community spread — *To view details of the hover map, **click here**. Source: Georgia DPH*

For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March, the 14-day average number of daily reported cases in Cobb County has surpassed 600 per 100,000 people.

According to the latest figures from the Georgia Department of Health, Cobb’s current rate is 601 per 100,000, well above the “high community spread” metric.

Since October, when the county’s figure briefly dipped below 100—the threshold for what public health officials consider high community spread—that number has been on a sharp rise.

While Cobb’s climb has prompted two “surge alerts” over the last three weeks from Dr. Janet Memark, the Cobb and Douglas Public Health director, other areas of the state, particularly in rural counties of northeast Georgia, have seen that 14-day average shoot above 1,000.

Statewide the 14-day average is 619 confirmed cases per 100,000.

Memark’s alerts also were issued with the holiday season in mind. Last week, she wrote her most urgent message yet, warning of a “dire situation” as the combined PCR and antigen test figure soared close to 700.

On Tuesday, 347 more cases were confirmed in Cobb, continuing a trend of reported cases at or above 300 since early December, including a single-day record of 464 on Dec. 18.

Also on Tuesday, 6,242 more cases were confirmed across Georgia, a single-day record for reported cases.

Those figures do not specify what’s known as the “date of onset”—or when someone reports having COVID symptoms and gets tested. Georgia DPH keeps a tally of those figures, and they have been sharply rising as well over the last three months.

Cobb set—for now—a record of 446 date of onset cases on Dec. 14. That’s a provisional figure, since it comes within a 14-day window. On the same day, a record 5,379 cases also were comfirmed in Georgia, although that too is a number that is likely to be revised.

Since March, Cobb has 33,330 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 537 deaths, including six more reported Tuesday.

Cobb COVID case swipe map 12.21.20

In East Cobb, a ZIP Code swipe map updated Monday by Commissioner Bob Ott (above, with school icons shown in blue) shows 8,038 confirmed COVID cases and 120 deaths, broken down as follows:

30062: 2,349 cases, 30 deaths
30066: 2,150 cases, 30 deaths
30067: 2,044 cases, 23 deaths
30068: 1,227 cases, 35 deaths
30075: 268 cases, 2 deaths

The case totals for ZIP Code 30062 are the second-highest in Cobb County, trailing the Powder Springs ZIP Code of 30127, where 2,652 cases have been reported. (They’re also the two biggest ZIP Codes in the county, with respective populations of 65,662 and 66,395.)

In Georgia there have been 518,902 cases and 9,503 deaths since March, with 52 more fatalities reported Tuesday.

The rate of hospitalizations also has been a concern for public health officials in recent weeks. According to a statewide dashboard, 83 percent of in-patient hospital beds are currently in use; for ICU beds it’s 87.7 percent of capacity and for emergency beds it’s 60 percent.

In Cobb and Douglas counties (Region N) 90 percent of 1,287 total beds are currently in use.

Georgia public health dept. launches COVID vaccine dashboard

December 21, 2020 by Wendy Parker

Wellstar receives COVID vaccines — *Initial COVID vaccine shipments being stored at Kennestone Hospital. Source: Wellstar Health System*

Submitted information:

The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is launching a vaccine dashboard that will track the number of providers enrolled to give vaccines, allocations and shipments from vaccine manufacturers, and vaccines administered. The dashboard will reflect the previous day’s totals, and will be updated Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. The dashboard can be found on the DPH website at https://dph.georgia.gov.

The Food and Drug Administration granted Emergency Use Authorization to Moderna for its COVID-19 vaccine Dec. 18, 2020. Georgia’s first allocation of Moderna vaccine is 174,000 doses and shipments are expected to begin arriving today through Wednesday. These shipments will be sent directly to providers.

DPH is also anticipating a second allocation of 60,000 Pfizer vaccine doses this week of which 20,000 will be set aside for long-term care facilities, specifically skilled nursing facilities, to begin vaccination Dec. 28. Most long-term care facilities in Georgia are working with CVS and Walgreens on vaccine administration to residents and staff.

It is important to note that Pfizer only ships Sunday through Thursday to avoid vaccine arriving over the weekend when some facilities are closed and to avoid issues for facilities without ultracold storage that are using dry ice for temperature control. The remaining 10,000 doses of vaccine from the first Pfizer allocation of 84,000 will arrive at facilities today.

There are more than 537,000 healthcare workers in Georgia, and as of Friday, the state had received approximately 72,000 doses of vaccine. With the expected Moderna shipment and second allocation of Pfizer vaccine, that number will more than quadruple over the next several days, providing greater access to vaccine for more healthcare workers and residents and staff of long-term care facilities. It is up to each provider to follow the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for prioritizing vaccination among their staff, as well as adhering to the vaccine provider agreement they signed when they enrolled as a provider. This will help ensure that vaccine is administered first to those healthcare workers in direct contact with COVID-19 patients or those who handle COVID-19 materials.

As both Pfizer and Moderna are able to ramp up production of vaccine in the coming days and weeks, supply should better meet demand for each phase of allocation and administration. Until that time, providers and the public are urged to be patient as we work together to get vaccine distributed in the most efficient and equitable way possible. The criteria for allocating vaccine is based, first and foremost, on supply and shipping, neither of which DPH controls. DPH does use the following criteria for allocation of vaccine to providers:

Number of individuals within a defined group (phase) to be immunized

Previous allocations of vaccine doses received

Number of doses used from previous allocation

Ultracold storage capacity and ability to use large number of doses versus smaller may determine Pfizer versus Moderna allocation

Geographic considerations and access in rural/underserved areas of Georgia

Healthcare workers have several options for getting vaccinated:

Health care workers affiliated with a health care system (hospital, clinic or private practice) or pharmacy should contact their respective facilities about the process for vaccinating eligible employees.

Health care workers with access to a community hospital or pharmacy can seek vaccination there.

Health care workers without access to these facilities – including those who have started the enrollment process to become a COVID-19 vaccine administration site but have not yet been approved – should contact their district health office (https://dph.georgia.gov/media/60761/download) for vaccination

All Georgians are urged to continue to follow basic COVID-19 prevention measures: wear a mask, practice social distancing, wash your hands frequently and follow the guidance of Public Health and the guidelines in the Governor’s Executive Order.

For information about COVID-19, visit https://dph.georgia.gov/novelcoronavirus or https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

Wellstar receives COVID-19 vaccines for health care workers

December 17, 2020December 17, 2020 by Wendy Parker

Wellstar receives COVID vaccines

Wellstar Health System announced Thursday that it’s received 3,900 doses of Pfizer and BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines, which will be administered voluntarily to its frontline staff.

Some of those workers were getting the vaccine on Thursday at Kennestone Hospital. According to a Wellstar press release, they include those in emergency and intensive-care departments, urgent care, skilled nursing facilities, paramedics and adult and pediatric primary care offices.

Wellstar said another shipment will be coming next week as part of the first phase of vaccine distribution, and that those in line to be vaccinated are essential workers and individuals ages 16 and older.

The Georgia Department of Public Health determines how an estimated 84,000 doses of vaccines are being distributed across the state.

More from Wellstar about the vaccine rollout can be found by clicking here.

Cobb and Douglas Public Health also has more information on COVID vaccines.

East Cobb UMC drive-up COVID testing site draws long lines

November 30, 2020November 23, 2020 by Wendy Parker

East Cobb rapid COVID-19 testing

This was the scene Monday morning westbound on Roswell Road between East Piedmont Road and Sewell Mill Road: Long lines at a rapid COVID-19 pop-up facility at East Cobb United Methodist Church.

Conducted by Viral Solutions, a private company, the rapid-testing set-up includes a drive-through tent in the parking lot of the church sanctuary.

No appointments are needed, and there are no out-of-pocket costs for the tests, according to Viral Solutions, which says it’s accepting all forms of insurance.

These are the standard “PCR” tests, which detect the presence of the COVID-19 virus, and they’re the most common form of COVID test. The test results are reported in 24-36 hours.

This is one of five pop-up sites in metro Atlanta for Viral Solutions.

The location at East Cobb UMC (2325 Roswell Road) is open from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 1-5 p.m. Monday-Friday (with a lunch break from 12:30-1) and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Cobb and Douglas Public Health is continuing free COVID-19 test this week, including Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Life University in Marietta.

Free testing also takes place at Jim Miller Park. For more information click here.

Cobb public health director: Limit ‘non-essential’ activity

November 21, 2020November 21, 2020 by Wendy Parker

Cobb public health director, Cobb COVID cases — *After a recent drop in the 7-day moving average of COVID cases in Cobb, that figure has risen to more than 100 a day. Source: Georgia Department of Public Health. **Click here for more**.*

With the Thanksgiving holiday approaching, the director of Cobb and Douglas Public Health said rising COVID-19 cases are stressing hospital capacity and she’s urging the public to reduce “non-essential” activities for the time being.

That includes limiting gatherings such as parties and weddings, which she said have been common sources for what she said is “pretty substantial community transmission” in Cobb County.

In a videotaped message posted Friday by Cobb County Government (see below), Dr. Janet Memark said hospitals are at near capacity with new COVID-related admissions—up nearly 20 percent in recent weeks—and there’s only one critical care bed left.

“These are very dangerous times for us,” said Memark, who didn’t provide any hospital figures. “The weather is going to get colder and we’re moving inside and there’s increased travel.”

She said citizens “know what works”—wearing masks, washing hands and social distancing—but “we should try to do our best and not go out and do too many things that are not essential at this point.”

She recommended against eating out in crowded places and going to bars, because along with weddings and other social gatherings, “that is where we are having the transmission.”

On Friday, there were 186 new reported cases of COVID-19 in Cobb, continuing a rising trend in November.

For the month, there have been 2,453 new cases in the county, for an average of 122 a day. Since March, Cobb has 25,178 confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Cobb also has 487 deaths, the second-most in Georgia, and 26 have been reported this month.

That data is according to the date that cases and deaths are reported to the Georgia Department of Public Health. Its daily status report is issued in the afternoon.

In East Cobb, there have been 5,319 COVID-19 cases and 102 deaths as of Nov. 9, according to a ZIP Code map compiled by Commissioner Bob Ott.

Another set of metrics—date of “onset,” or when a positive COVID case is confirmed, and date of death—also is on the rise in Cobb.

The 14-day moving average of cases according to date of onset (in the chart at the top) was 115 a day as of Nov. 7. After a summer surge of cases, that figure had dropped to 37 a day in late September.

Another indicator used to monitor community spread is a 14-day average of cases per 100,000 people. That now stands at 271—100 is considered “high community spread”—and it has been a figure Cobb school superintendent Chris Ragsdale relied on earlier in the school year regarding reopening.

But he told Cobb Board of Education members this week “there are no metrics” in determining classroom or school closures, and that each situation will be decided on a case-by-case basis.

There have been no closures since Cobb students opting for face-to-face learning returned to schools.

On Friday, the Cobb County School District reported 106 new COVID cases among teachers and staff, and 105 the week before that.

Of the 721 cases reported in the district since July 1, 434 have come since students began returning to school.

Memark has said that she’s not seeing transmission in the schools—a point Ragsdale also made to the school board—but she said students going to school and adults going to work who are sick “is happening way too often, and it is going to be a major problem for everybody.”

She said that the schools will continue to be “disrupted by this,” and urged parents to determine what environment is best for their children.

Cobb school district parents have until Nov. 29 to decide learning options for the spring semester, although another choice window could open in the spring.

Across the country, Memark said only three states are not seeing surges in new COVID-19 cases.

“If you have people who are medically fragile or are coming from areas that have very high rates like us, you’re definitely at risk of exposure or exposing others to COVID at this time,” she said.

There have been nearly 400,000 reported COVID-19 cases in Georgia and 8,591 deaths. Since last Sunday, there have been 11,477 cases reported according to date of report, and 5,232 according to date of onset.

In that time, there have been 144 deaths reported according to date of report and 49 by date of death in Georgia.

More COVID-19 information and resources from Cobb and Douglas Public Health can be found here.

Davis Direction to hold substance abuse prevention event

October 13, 2020 by Wendy Parker

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. Davis Direction substance abuse prevention event

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).

Cobb & Douglas Public Health urges public to get flu shots

October 2, 2020 by Wendy Parker

Submitted information from Cobb and Douglas Public Health about flu shots:

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.

Cobb increases COVID-19 testing hours, adds KSU locations

August 18, 2020 by Wendy Parker

Cobb coronavirus statement

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.

However, you’re asked to fill out an online testing referral questionnaire first.

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.

East Cobb orthodontist to hold blood drive on Thursday

August 11, 2020August 11, 2020 by Wendy Parker

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. East Cobb orthdontist blood drive

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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WellStar Foundation invites public to free virtual gala on Saturday

July 31, 2020July 31, 2020 by Wendy Parker

Submitted information: Wellstar Foundation virtual gala

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.

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!

New Wellstar Kennestone Emergency Department opens Thursday

July 21, 2020 by Wendy Parker

Wellstar Kenestone Emergency Department — 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.

Wellstar Kennestone Emergency Department

Cobb Chamber accepting Health Hero Award nominations through July 17

July 10, 2020 by Wendy Parker

Cobb Chamber Health Hero Award nominations — *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.

Send Us Your News!

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.

Pass along your details to: [email protected], and please observe the following guidelines to ensure we get everything properly and can post it promptly:

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!

WellStar East Cobb Health Park workers get parachute salute

June 24, 2020 by Wendy Parker

East Cobb Health Park workers parachute salute — *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.

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

March 16, 2020March 15, 2020 by Wendy Parker

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.

Georgia Coronavirus cases grow to 99; Cobb total reaches 19

March 16, 2020March 15, 2020 by Wendy Parker

Cobb Commissioners Coronavirus meeting

On Sunday the Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the number of confirmed Coronavirus cases in Georgia went from 66 on Saturday to 99.

The number of cases in Cobb grew from 15 to 19 during that time, and Fulton now has the highest number of cases in the state with 20.

The daily status report is here; it is updated each day at noon.

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.

Ga. presidential primary delayed to May; advance voting halted

March 16, 2020March 14, 2020 by Wendy Parker

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.

Cobb’s 15 Coronavirus cases leads Ga.; state emergency declared

March 16, 2020March 14, 2020 by Wendy Parker

Gov. Brian Kemp, Georgia Coronavirus emergency

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.

(DPH daily tracking info can be found here, updated at noon).

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.

(You can watch his address here and read his executive order here.)

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.

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

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 schools closing Monday ‘until further notice’

March 16, 2020March 12, 2020 by Wendy Parker

New Brumby Elementary School

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/.

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: [email protected] and we’ll include it in future posts.

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News

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