The rate of COVID-19 transmission in Cobb County is nearing a benchmark figure.
But Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid said it’s not enough to end an emergency declaration she extended last week into March.
At the end of Tuesday’s Cobb Board of Commissioners meeting, Cupid said that the 14-day average of COVID cases per 100,000 people in the county is now 246.
That’s a steep drop from more than 2,500 in January, at the peak of the Omicron surge.
But public health officials consider anything more than 100 cases per 100K a “high” rate of community spread.
“Shall we have rates that that fall below the rates of high transmission, I will be glad to end the order,” she said, adding that she’s also considering the burden on local hospitals.
Cupid didn’t have any specifics on that, but said that she understands public frustration over the order.
“I am no glutton for the punishment that I receive in the e-mails and calls that I get,” said Cupid, who in recent months has been publicly masked, and also tested positive for COVID earlier this month.
“I look forward to the day where I don’t have to wear this mask and we can see all of our county facilities full again.”
The order continues the use of the county’s emergency operations plan and requires citizens attending commission meetings in person to wear masks and observe social-distancing protocols.
A separate mask mandate for indoor county facilities issued by Cobb County Manager Jackie McMorris is set to expire Feb. 28. That mandate includes libraries and indoor recreation facilities.
A previous emergency order limited the number of spectators at county-run indoor aquatics centers, spurring complaints from high school swimmers and their families who were unable to watch meets.
Cupid said among the metrics she watches is the COVID test positivity rate—five percent is considered high—and indicated that the current rate in Cobb is around eight percent, also down from 22 percent at the start of February.
She said the emergency order could end before the renewed 30-day window, and that “the numbers are dropping, and I am very hopeful that day will be with us soon.”
Cupid did not say if she might issue another order if the case rates in Cobb go over 100.
Related posts:
- Cobb COVID case rates fall but are still ‘very high’
- Cobb Commission Chairwoman tests positive for COVID
- Cobb COVID emergency declaration extended into February
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!
