NORTH GEORGIA HEALTH DISTRICT

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    NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Category: Hot Topics

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  Vaccination More Urgent Than Ever

COVID-19 Cases Increase and Delta Variant Spreads in Georgia

 

ATLANTA – If you were waiting for the right time to get vaccinated, that time is now! The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is urging Georgians to get vaccinated as the number of new COVID-19 cases increases daily and the Delta variant spreads.

The COVID case rate in Georgia has increased 204% over the last 14-day period. Yesterday new cases totaled 4,612 – the highest daily number since mid-February. Hospitalizations have increased by about 50% in the last 14 days, and deaths have increased by about 18% in the same period. Vaccination has stalled statewide and only 40% of Georgians are fully vaccinated.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates the Delta variant accounts for  78% of new COVID cases in Georgia, making vaccination more urgent than ever. The Delta variant spreads more than twice as easily from one person to another, compared with earlier strains. The highest spread of cases and severe outcomes are happening in places with low vaccination rates, and virtually all hospitalizations and deaths continue to be among the unvaccinated.

“Unfortunately, we can expect COVID numbers to keep growing. People who are unvaccinated or skip their second dose of vaccine are targets for infection,” said Kathleen E. Toomey, M.D., M.P.H., commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Health. “Getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and the Delta variant. High vaccination coverage will reduce spread of the virus in your community and elsewhere - and help prevent new variants from emerging.”

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Category: Hot Topics

 Survey web banner

Para leer este mensaje en Español, haga clic en 'Español' en la parte superior de esta página a la derecha

Since early 2020, each of us, our families and our communities have faced harrowing challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Indeed, we have been deeply impacted in many ways that include everything from deprivation and financial loss to dire illnesses and even the death of loved ones. Fortunately, we are beginning to see signs of recovery from this pandemic; however, we still have a long way to go. Please take this survey to help us know how we, your local public health partners, can better support this recovery and help everyone get back to life-as-usual more quickly here in North Georgia. Thank you!

For English, please start the survey here:

English Version of COVID 19 Survey

Para Español, inicie la encuesta aquí:

Latino version of COVID 19 Survey

 

 

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The CDC: Know Your COVID-19 Community Level
 
The CDC's COVID-19 Community Levels is a tool to help communities decide what prevention steps to take based on the latest data for each area. Levels of transmission in an area can be low, medium, or high and are determined by looking at hospital beds being used, hospital admissions, and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area. Take precautions to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 based on the COVID-19 Community Level in your area.
 
As of September 19, 2023, COVID-19 Community Levels of transmission in our North Georgia Health District counties are as follows:
 
 Cherokee - Low  Murray - Low
 Fannin - Low  Pickens - Low
 Gilmer - Low  Whitfield - Low
  
COVID community levels tool
Immunocompromised Guidance
 
Go to the CDC website to learn more about this tool and how to use it at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/community-levels.html.
 

Our District's Latest COVID-19 Updates: 

The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) follows the guidance and recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) for all COVID-19 vaccine, at all stages of dosage, including the Updated Bivalent COVID-19 Boosters. Access the latest recommendations for all approved doses of COVID-19 vaccine and eligibilities HERE and note that all COVID-19 vaccine doses are available with no appointment needed at each county health department in the North Georgia Health District, which includes Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens, and Whitfield counties.

zK9x2 1583753942 159226 blog MGN 1280x720 00124C00 OPFBHThe Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) continues to closely monitor an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by coronavirus (COVID-19) first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China in December 2019, as well as its variants, and is regularly coordinating with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for information on the virus and the latest variants. Cases have been identified globally, in the United States, and in Georgia.

North Georgia Health District 1-2 of Georgia DPH wants to ensure all residents and communities in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield counties have easy access to the latest COVID-19 information, testing and vaccination updates as well as all recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

 

This continues to be an evolving situation and information is subject to change, so here is where you can conveniently link to all updated information from both Georgia DPH and the CDC.

There have been over 2 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Georgia and thousands of related deaths. However, there are now over 6 million Georgians fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including nearly 250,000 residents in the North Georgia Health District. Click here to go to the Georgia DPH COVID-19 Status Report. 

Eligible for COVID-19 Vaccine and live or work in Georgia?

Learn More... Click HERE.

Dr. Pablo Perez, internist in Dalton GA, receives a COVID-19 vaccination from Robin Coffey, registered nurse for the Whitfield County Health Department, on Dec.18, 2020, as the initial roll-out of COVID-19 vaccine begins in North Georgia and statewide to healthcare workers and first responders. 

 FREE COVID-19 TESTING AVAILABLE IN NORTH GEORGIA.


 

CHEROKEE - FANNIN - GILMER 

MURRAY - PICKENS - WHITFIELD 

                                                                                                                                  

                      Click HERE for Health District Overview 

Updated COVID-19 Status in Georgia Report 

Click here to find Georgia's COVID-19 daily status of case and hospitalizations with interactive chars and graphs.

 

 

 

 

 

Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Status in Georgia Report 

Click on the icon for the latest vaccine updates and access the Georgia DPH Dashboard for all the latest COVID-19 vaccine data in Georgia.

 

 

 

 

Updated COVID-19 Testing Information 

COVID-19 testing is available to all Georgians who request it, whether they have symptoms or not. Get updated information about COVID-19 testing and test providers in Georgia.

 

 

 

 

 

Updated COVID-19 Guidance 

Find out the latest COVID-19 Guidance provided by the Georgia Department of Public health, including procedures and protocols to help stop the spread.

  

 

 

 

 

 

Check out the PDF version of a children’s book that helps children understand our COVID-19 pandemic world when returning to school. Below is the book titled “I Am Going Back To School”, written by Aileen Mui and Vivian Wong - just click on the book below provided in English and Spanish and share with family, friends and associates who have children going back to school.

     

State and Federal Response Websites:

CDC

Georgia Department of Public Health

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Category: Hot Topics
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH

NEWS RELEASE 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sept. 12, 2017​​          

Contact; Nancy Nydam​, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

DPH Urges Safety Precautions After Irma

Keep Yourself and Your Loved Ones Safe By Following Basic Safety Tips

ATLANTA – Hurricane/tropical storm Irma is no longer a threat but recovering from the storm will take weeks, and even longer in some parts of the state. The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is urging Georgians to use extreme caution particularly in the next few days as residents return to their homes, power is restored and damage assessments are made. The storm may be over, but that doesn’t mean the danger is.

Be careful near damaged buildings 

• Do not return to your home until you are told it is safe to do so.
• Return during daylight hours, when it is easier to avoid hazards, particularly if the electricity is off.
• Do not enter your home if you are unsure of structural integrity.
• Leave immediately if you hear shifting or unusual noises.
• If you smell gas or suspect a leak, notify emergency authorities or the gas company immediately and leave the area.

Stay away from power lines 

• Stay clear of fallen power lines - be particularly careful of power lines that may be hidden in fallen trees and branches.
• Watch out for power lines dangling overhead.
• Report downed power lines to emergency authorities or the power company immediately.

Avoid floodwater

• Always follow warnings about flooded roads.
• Don’t drive through floodwater – it may be deeper than you think.
• Keep in mind that floodwater often carries germs. If you touch it, be sure to wash your hands with soap and water. If you don’t have soap or water, use alcohol-based wipes or sanitizer.

Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

• Never use a generator inside your home or garage, even if doors and windows are open. 
• Only use generators outside, more than 20 feet away from your home, doors andwindows. 
• Install battery-operated or battery backup CO detectors near every sleeping area in your home. 

Identify and throw away food that may not be safe to eat

• When in doubt, throw it out.
• Throw away food that has an unusual odor, color or texture. 
• Throw away perishable foods (including meat, poultry, fish, eggs and leftovers) in your refrigerator when the power has been off for four hours or more.
• Thawed food that contains ice crystals can be refrozen or cooked. Freezers, if left unopened and full, will keep food safe for 48 hours (24 hours if half full).
• Throw away canned foods that are bulging, opened or damaged.

Check water quality

• Listen and follow all drinking water advisories and use bottled water when in doubt.
• Do not drink water from private wells that have/may have been flooded.
• Disinfect all private wells that may have been flooded before drinking water.

Protect yourself from animals and pests

• Floods can bring mosquitoes that carry disease - use insect repellent with DEET or Picaridin, IR3535, and some oil of lemon eucalyptus. Follow label directions.
• Wear long sleeves, pants and socks when you’re outside.
• Stay away from wild or stray animals after a storm - call 911 or your local public health department to report them.

Prevent mold

• Protect yourself by wearing gloves, masks and goggles. 
• Remove and discard items that cannot be washed and disinfected (such as mattresses, carpeting, carpet padding, rugs, upholstered furniture, cosmetics, stuffed animals, baby toys, pillows, foam-rubber items, books, wall coverings and paper products)within 24-48 hours.
• Remove and discard drywall and insulation that has been contaminated with sewage or floodwaters within 24-48 hours.
• Ventilate by opening all doors and windows.
• Thoroughly clean all hard surfaces (such as flooring, concrete, molding, wood and metal furniture, countertops, appliances, sinks and other plumbing fixtures) with hot water and laundry or dish detergent.

For more information go to:

https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/hurricane_irma.html

https://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/charts/refridg_food.html

https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-05/documents/epa816f05021.pdf

https://www.cdc.gov/mold/images/mold_infographic.jpg

http://www.gema.ga.gov/Pages/default.aspx

https://dph.georgia.gov/

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About the Georgia Department of Public Health 

The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is the lead agency in preventing disease, injury and disability; promoting health and well-being; and preparing for and responding to disasters from a health perspective. For more information visit: www.dph.georgia.gov 

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