Cobb COVID-19 emergency

Cupid declares Cobb COVID-19 emergency through Jan. 22, 2022

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Cobb COVID emergency declaration
Long lines of vehicles backed up traffic on Roswell Road and East Piedmont Road Wednesday for COVID-19 testing at East Cobb United Methodist Church. ECN photo

For the fourth time in recent months, Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid on Wednesday declared a state of emergency in the county due to rising COVID-19 cases.

The new order takes effect immediately and will continue through Jan. 22, 2022.

The emergency declaration allows the county to implement an emergency operations plan, hold public meetings virtually and encourage residents to take precautions.

Cobb County Manager Jackie McMorris also has reinstated a mask mandate inside county buildings (but not outdoor facilities like parks).

“This is unlike any other surge we’ve ever had before,” Cupid said in a video message after signing the declaration.

The Omicron variant has prompted COVID-19 cases in Cobb to jump by more than 150 percent over the last week.

On Wednesday, Georgia Department of Public Health data showed a reported 636 new cases in Cobb, the single-highest figure since 966 cases were reported on Jan. 8 during a winter surge.

That’s according to “date of report” figures, many of which lag from previous days and weeks; the “date of onset” category operates on a two-week lag and as of Wednesday the preliminary estimate is 417 cases.

“The stress on our hospitals is increasing, and both public and private COVID testing facilities are overwhelmed,” Cupid said in a statement issued by the county.

“Even though this is just prior to Christmas, I wanted to act quickly to help slow the spread of this new variant in our community.”

Three previous month-long emergencies were declared by Cupid August, September and October, but the oncoming Omicron variant has pushed transmission rates, hospitalizations and other metrics over the last two weeks.

There is not a mandate in Cobb for masks regarding private-run businesses or other non-county entities.

The Cobb mandate also does not affect the Cobb County School District, which has a masks-optional policy and is on a holiday break until Jan. 6.

Cobb courts have been requiring masks under a separate judicial order from the Georgia Supreme Court.

Cobb and Douglas Public Health continues to offer free COVID-19 tests and vaccines. For information and to book appointments, please click here.

Cobb COVID emergency declaration
Cobb COVID-19 cases are on a surge for the third time in 2021. For more data from the Georgia Department of Health, click here.

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Cupid issues 30-day COVID-19 emergency declaration for Cobb

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Lisa Cupid, Cobb adopts fiscal year 2022 budget

Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid has signed a 30-day emergency declaration in the county due to a sharp surge in COVID-19 cases, citing a “critically low” shortage of hospital beds.

In a release issued by Cobb spokesman Ross Cavitt, Cupid also cited high test positivity rates and low vaccination rates.

She urged those who have not been vaccinated to do so, and encouraged businesses and other non-government entities in Cobb to mandate indoor mask use “for the protection of employees and customers.”

As of Thursday, Cobb has a 14-day average of 670 cases per 100,000 people. The “high community spread” threshold is 100 cases, and that figure has risen sharply in the last month.

But while Cobb is imposing a mask mandate for county buildings starting Friday, Cupid cannot broaden that mandate.

That’s because Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp earlier Thursday issued an order preventing local governments from imposing mask mandates and other restrictions on private businesses.

Kemp said on social media that his order “will make sure businesses across our state can’t be punished by local governments for trying to make a living, pay their employees, and save their livelihoods. Georgia is open for business!”

Cobb did not have a mask mandate beyond county buildings last year under former chairman Mike Boyce. Some cities in Georgia, including Atlanta and Savannah, have imposed mandates on non-government entities.

“Public health officials are urging us to do whatever we can to encourage people to get the COVID vaccine and wear masks while near other people,” Cupid said in Cavitt’s release.

“This declaration will open the doors to provide assistance to others in the county who need it and highlight the critical stress this surge has put on our local healthcare facilities.”

Her declaration also activates the county’s Emergency Operations Plan for resources to be funneled to hospitals, state agencies or others with a critical need for equipment and supplies.

You can read the full Cobb emergency declaration by clicking here.

On Thursday, executives from hospitals in Georgia, including Wellstar, discussed how the COVID-19 surge is affecting their operations. You can watch it below.

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