Cobb temporary COVID-19 call center closing after four months

Submitted information:

Cobb County’s temporary call center to help residents make vaccination appointments and deal with rental assistance questions will end its four-month run on Friday.  The center, funded with a Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act allocation, took more than 1400 calls and was expanded to help link people to the county’s Emergency Rental Assistance program.

“We proposed the call center at a time when people were desperate to make an appointment to get the COVID-19 vaccine and supplies of the vaccine were low,” Chairwoman Lisa Cupid said.  “When the volume of calls dropped, we transitioned the call center to help with rental assistance.  Even though it is closing, we have the infrastructure in place to reopen it if the situation with the latest COVID surge starts overwhelming our resources once again.”

After an initial surge of calls, the call volume dropped precipitously after cases of COVID declined and the supply of the vaccine increased.  The contract with the vendor also includes software that could form the basis of a future 311 information center should the county decide to move in that direction.

Residents seeking a COVID test, vaccination, or information should visit www.cobbanddouglaspublichealth.com.

Residents who might need rental assistance should visit www.cobbcounty.org/ERA.

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