Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid said Friday that the COVID-19 state of emergency she declared that’s set to expire next week will likely be extended into February.
During a special-called virtual meeting of the Cobb Board of Commissioners, Cupid said that unless there’s a “marked decrease” of virus transmission in the county, she’ll extend the 30-day emergency declaration she issued on Dec. 22.
That’s due to end next Friday, Jan. 21, but COVID-19 cases have spiraled since then due to the Omicron variant.
As of Friday, Cobb and Douglas Public Health reported that the 14-day average is 2,536 cases per 100,000 people, far above the “high” transmission threshold of 100 cases/100K
Friday’s number is slightly down from earlier in the week, but the transmission rates remain at record levels.
During the virtual meeting Friday, commissioners were briefed by Cobb and Douglas Public Health Director Dr. Janet Memark and WellStar’s Medical Director of Infectious Disease, Dr. Danny Branstetter (see video link at the bottom).
They appeared with Cupid Thursday on a virtual town hall, and continued to urge the public to wear masks and get vaccinated, including boosters, to protect themselves and others from infection and serious illness or worse.
Branstetter said Wellstar Kennestone Hospital is seeing fewer COVID-related hospitalizations this week, but the numbers remain especially high.
According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, Cobb has 440,378 people “fully vaccinated” against COVID-19, or 59 percent of the eligible population. Another 481,527 people, or 64 percent, have received one dose. A total of 173,931 people, or 23 percent, have received booster shots.
The Cobb emergency declaration enables the county to utilize a response plan. Cupid called for commissioners meetings to go virtual this week.
County Manager Jackie McMorris also has reimposed a mask mandate at indoor county facilities and has placed social-distancing limits in some instances, including the county’s aquatic centers.
That’s put a limit on spectators to watch high school swimming meets, prompting an online petition started by a Walton High School swimmer.
Commissioners were inundated with e-mails, but Cupid continues to defend the decision in the name of public health and safety.
Earlier this week commissioners confirmed an $813,000 Cobb Emergency Management Agency purchase of 60,000 COVID test kits with the last of its federal CARES Act funding.
A distribution event was to have taken place Monday at Jim Miller Park but is being delayed with a winter weather forecast starting Sunday.
Related posts:
- Cobb delays COVID test distribution as winter weather approaches
- Cobb keeping aquatic center restrictions despite protests
- Cobb government to issue 60K in-home COVID-19 tests
- Cobb and Douglas Public Health opens more COVID-19 test sites
- Cobb jury trials paused in Cobb through Jan. 21
- Cobb issues emergency declaration through Jan. 22
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