Ask The Doc! Fighting Off Covid-19
Community, Lifestyle October 2, 2020
This morning, The doctors address a comment left on one of the Ask The Doc Segments. What drugs are good for fighting off Covid-19 or do we just wait on a vaccine? The Doctors also address the President and first lady testing positive for Covid-19. What do the Doctors have to say about testing positive with no symptoms? When could he have contracted the virus? How long has he had it? All this and more on Ask The Doc!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rHHkEdwlKE
Tennessee K-12 students show significant Learning Loss
News September 24, 2020
NASHVILLE, TN— Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and the Tennessee Department of Education released estimated data regarding learning loss for Tennessee students resulting from COVID-19 school closures through the summer months. Preliminary data projects an estimated 50% decrease in proficiency rates in 3rd grade reading and a projected 65% decrease in proficiency in math.
“This data highlights the immense challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has created for our students and educators,” said Gov. Lee. “The vast majority of students learn best in-person with their teacher, and we’ll continue to help provide a safe environment for Tennessee students to get their educational journeys back on track.”
While many students traditionally experience learning loss over the summer, projections show that learning loss from March school closures through the summer is expected to be 2.5 times that of a normal summer rate. Projections were developed in partnership with national researchers using historical, Tennessee-specific data to provide additional learning loss estimates based on the extended school closures.
“We know that increased time away from school has negative implications for students, which is compounded during extended building closures,” said Tennessee Commissioner of Education Penny Schwinn. “The department is focused on ensuring we provide essential services and resources to mitigate the loss and keep students on a path to success this new school year.”
The learning loss impacts early grades greater than later grades, placing these students further behind in the learning trajectory as they progress through school. Students with lower proficiency rates are also disproportionately impacted by learning loss, further exacerbating existing achievement gaps.
Research from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development on the economics of education shows that each additional year of schooling increases life income by an average of 7.5-10%. Further, a loss of one-third of a year in effective learning for just the students affected by the closures of early 2020 will, by historical data, lower a country’s GDP by an average of 1.5% over the remainder of the century.
Ask The Doc! College And Covid-19
Lifestyle September 28, 2020
This morning, the doctors discuss how colleges are dealing with Covid-19. When a Student tests positive, the colleges continue classes and give the infected student their own quarantined dorm. Is this the approach we should be taking with everything? Should we worry over the numbers? Hear Doctor Whaley and Doctor Tidman’s point of view on this right here on Ask the Doc!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBLFwj_Lmr4
Limited visitation at Tennessee long-term care facilities will resume
Featured Stories June 10, 2020
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee in coordination with his Unified Command Group will release guidance today on requirements and options permitting Tennessee’s long-term care facilities to provide limited visitation options while keeping their resident populations safe from COVID-19.
“From my own family experience, I know how heartbreakingly difficult and stressful it is to not see loved ones for weeks at a time,” Gov. Lee said. “Our family members, friends, and neighbors in long-term care are our most vulnerable Tennesseans. Even limited visitation options will bring relief and support for residents and visitors alike, as long as we can ensure everyone’s well-being.”
The UCG guidance is being released in connection with a forthcoming executive order and will permit new forms of visitation beginning Monday, June 15, 2020.
Facilities that choose to re-open to visitors must first meet the following prerequisites:
- Testing of all staff and residents at least once, and compliance with applicable regulations regarding weekly staff re-testing;
- No new COVID-19 case in residents or staff members in the previous 28 days;
- Compliant with Board for Licensing Health Care Facilities regulations and infection control guidelines;
- Overall stability of the disease burden present in the community where the facility is located.
“Our hope is to balance the need for social interaction at long-term care facilities with providing a safe environment for residents, staff, and visitors,” said Commissioner Lisa Piercey, MD, MBA, FAAP, Tennessee Department of Health. “We will monitor the implementation of this visitation plan closely, knowing we may need to revert to more protective measures if we start seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases at facilities.”
Long-term care facilities who meet the prerequisites and allow limited visitation must follow guidelines, which include:
- Making appointments prior to visiting and limiting the duration of visits;
- Limiting the number of visitors per resident and daily visitors per facility;
- Enforcing visitor social distancing and mask requirements; and,
- Screening all visitors with symptom and temperature checks immediately upon facility entry.
Long-term care facilities may utilize three options for limited resident visitation to take place:
- In an outdoor setting, weather permitting;
- Using a visitation booth or protective barrier; and,
- A resident’s room if the visitor documents a negative COVID-19 test result within 72 hours prior to the visit.
Separate provisions for visitation involving accommodations for support for residents with disabilities and other critical assistance or end-of-life care also remain in effect.
Tennessee lifting restaurants and retail capacity restrictions
Announcements, Community, Press Release May 18, 2020
Nashville, Tenn. – As Tennessee continues to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the state’s Economic Recovery Group announced today it will lift capacity restrictions on restaurants and retail to instead focus on social distancing best practices effective May 22 and issue guidelines to facilitate the safe reopening of larger, non-contact attractions on or after May 22. New Tennessee Pledge guidelines will be released this week. Six counties – Shelby, Madison, Davidson, Hamilton, Knox, and Sullivan – may continue to follow individual, county-specific reopening plans created in consultation with State and local health departments.
“Tennesseans have worked incredibly hard to do their part and help slow the spread of COVID-19 so that our state can begin to reopen. Thanks to their continued efforts, we’re able to allow restaurants and retail businesses to operate at greater capacity and large attractions to open in a safe and thoughtful way,” said Governor Bill Lee. “Our state continues to see downward trends in case growth and meets the White House criteria for a phased reopening. This progress has been hard-won, and we can build upon it by reopening while also maintaining common-sense safety measures like mask-wearing and good hygiene. By taking the Tennessee Pledge, our businesses can reopen in a way that protects the health of their customers and employees, and protects the livelihoods of hard-working Tennesseans.”
Gov. Bill Lee
The new Large Attractions guidance applies to those businesses that can effectively practice social distancing with strong measures to protect both employees and customers, including racetracks, amusement parks, waterparks, theaters and dinner theaters, auditoriums, large museums and more. Restrictions on social gatherings of more than 10 people remain in place for the time being. Updates to Restaurant Guidance will include a lift on capacity restrictions, allowing for increased service as long as social distancing guidelines are adhered to, including 6 feet between tables.
The updated guidelines come as Tennessee continues to meet the White House state gating criteria for phased reopening. The gating criteria include:
Symptoms
- Downward trajectory of influenza-like illnesses (ILI) reported within a 14-day period; AND
- Downward trajectory of COVID-like syndromic (CLI) cases reported within a 14-day period
Cases
- Downward trajectory of documented cases within a 14-day period; OR
- Downward trajectory of positive tests as a percent of total tests within a 14-day period (flat or increasing volume of tests)
Hospitals
- Treat all patients without crisis care; AND
- Robust testing program in place for at-risk healthcare workers, including emerging antibody testing
Hospital capacity remains sufficient to meet the needs of patients, while the state continues to meet the goal of testing 2 percent of the population per month.
The Economic Recovery Group (ERG), composed of 30 leaders from the public and private sector, is crafting guidance to assist businesses in a safe reopening. The industry representatives participating in the ERG collectively represent over 140,000 Tennessee businesses that employ over 2.5M Tennesseans. More information about ERG is available here.
Graphs are available here.
16,370 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Tennessee, 8,624 recovered
Health May 13, 2020
In an effort to keep our readers, up to date with the latest number of cases confirmed in Tenn., Fetch Your News will continually be updating this article with the most recent updates from Tenn. Department of Health (TDH).
As of May 13, 2020, TDH reported 16,370 cases statewide, 273 deaths, and 8,624 recovered. The highest concentration is in Davidson with 3,623 cases, 37 deaths, and 1,950 recovered. TDH reported that 283,924 tests have been completed in the state.
Out of the positive cases around 8 percent have required hospitalization and 52 percent have recovered from home. Information about hospitalization status is gathered at the time of diagnosis, therefore this information may be incomplete. This number indicates the number of patients that were ever hospitalized during their illness, it does not indicate the number of patients currently hospitalized.
49 percent of cases have fully recovered from the virus. TDH defines “recovered” as people who (1) have been confirmed to be asymptomatic by their local or regional health department and have completed their required isolation period or (2)are at least 21 days beyond the first test confirming their illness.
Up to date map of COVID-19 spread in Tenn.
County Breakdown
3,623 Davidson
37 deaths, 24,120 negative
3,475 Shelby
75 deaths, 32,822 negative
1,381 Trousdale
3 deaths, 1,646 negative
780 Rutherford
20 deaths, 7,911 negative
714 Sumner
40 deaths, 5,240 negative
603 Bledsoe
1 deaths, 3,144 negative
453 Williamson
10 deaths, 7,012 negative
400 Tipton
2 deaths, 2,495 negative
309 Wilson
8 deaths, 3,671 negative
300 Lake
0 deaths, 1,156 negative
295 Knox
5 deaths, 10,339 negative
286 Hamilton
13 deaths, 4,600 negative
246 Bedford
3 deaths, 1,860 negative
245 Robertson
0 deaths, 2,398 negative
191 Montgomery
2 deaths, 5,058 negative
190 Putnam
5 deaths, 2,812 negative
177 Hardeman
0 deaths, 3,327 negative
156 Madison
1 deaths, 3,820 negative
123 McMinn
9 deaths, 2,013 negative
88 Dickson
0 deaths, 1,543 negative
87 Cumberland
1 deaths, 2,600 negative
85 Fayette
1 deaths, 1,638 negative
78 Cheatham
0 deaths, 1,306 negative
75 Bradley
1 deaths, 1,708 negative
74 Blount
3 deaths, 2,261 negative
71 Macon
3 deaths, 1,017 negative
65 Sevier
2 deaths, 2,768 negative
64 Washington
0 deaths, 2,437 negative
58 Maury
0 deaths, 2,118 negative
57 Gibson
1 deaths, 1,740 negative
56 Coffee
0 deaths, 1,576 negative
54 Sullivan
2 deaths, 2,545 negative
52 Hickman
0 deaths, 716 negative
47 Greene
2 deaths, 1,399 negative
46 Loudon
0 deaths, 1,075 negative
44 Dyer
0 deaths, 1,048 negative
41 Franklin
1 deaths, 1,576 negative
40 Lauderdale
0 deaths, 2,749 negative
35 Anderson
1 deaths, 3,149 negative
33 Monroe
1 deaths, 644 negative
31 Hawkins
2 deaths, 1,145 negative
30 Grundy
1 deaths, 381 negative
29 Marion
1 deaths, 645 negative
28 DeKalb
0 deaths, 934 negative
28 Haywood
1 deaths, 552 negative
26 Jefferson
0 deaths, 1,269 negative
25 Hamblen
2 deaths, 1,729 negative
24 Marshall
1 deaths, 794 negative
24 Smith
1 deaths, 638 negative
24 Weakley
0 deaths, 776 negative
22 Carroll
1 deaths, 849 negative
22 Meigs
0 deaths, 357 negative
21 Lawrence
0 deaths, 1,109 negative
19 Cocke
0 deaths, 709 negative
18 Carter
1 deaths, 1,058 negative
17 Campbell
1 deaths, 1,050 negative
17 White
0 deaths, 974 negative
16 Lincoln
0 deaths, 912 negative
16 Obion
1 deaths, 636 negative
15 Henry
0 deaths, 927 negative
15 Johnson
0 deaths, 1,781 negative
14 Overton
0 deaths, 829 negative
13 Cannon
0 deaths, 373 negative
13 Perry
0 deaths, 116 negative
13 Warren
0 deaths, 1,303 negative
12 Chester
0 deaths, 406 negative
12 Crockett
1 deaths, 387 negative
12 Humphreys
1 deaths, 449 negative
12 McNairy
0 deaths, 550 negative
12 Morgan
0 deaths, 2,721 negative
12 Polk
0 deaths, 380 negative
11 Scott
0 deaths, 461 negative
10 Henderson
0 deaths, 759 negative
10 Jackson
0 deaths, 487 negative
9 Giles
0 deaths, 720 negative
8 Hardin
0 deaths, 1,032 negative
8 Roane
0 deaths, 2,245 negative
7 Claiborne
0 deaths, 493 negative
7 Sequatchie
0 deaths, 762 negative
7 Stewart
0 deaths, 257 negative
6 Benton
1 deaths, 634 negative
6 Clay
0 deaths, 305 negative
6 Fentress
0 deaths, 495 negative
6 Grainger
0 deaths, 427 negative
6 Houston
0 deaths, 217 negative
6 Rhea
0 deaths, 819 negative
4 Decatur
0 deaths, 232 negative
4 Union
0 deaths, 361 negative
3 Moore
0 deaths, 224 negative
3 Unicoi
0 deaths, 358 negative
3 Wayne
0 deaths, 320 negative
2 Lewis
0 deaths, 200 negative
2 Van Buren
0 deaths, 278 negative
1 Pickett
0 deaths, 201 negative
0 Hancock
0 deaths, 101 negative
14,768 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Tennessee, 7,369 recovered
Health May 10, 2020
In an effort to keep our readers, up to date with the latest number of cases confirmed in Tenn., Fetch Your News will continually be updating this article with the most recent updates from Tenn. Department of Health (TDH).
As of May 9, 2020 at 5:35 p.m., TDH reported 14,768 cases statewide, 242 deaths, and 7,369 recovered. The highest concentration is in Davidson with 3,401 cases, 31 deaths, and 1,758 recovered. TDH reported that 243,578 tests have been completed in the state.
Out of the positive cases around 9 percent have required hospitalization and 54 percent have recovered from home. Information about hospitalization status is gathered at the time of diagnosis, therefore this information may be incomplete. This number indicates the number of patients that were ever hospitalized during their illness, it does not indicate the number of patients currently hospitalized.
49 percent of cases have fully recovered from the virus. TDH defines “recovered” as people who (1) have been confirmed to be asymptomatic by their local or regional health department and have completed their required isolation period or (2)are at least 21 days beyond the first test confirming their illness.
Up to date map of COVID-19 spread in Tenn.
County Breakdown
3,401 Davidson
31 deaths, 22,338 negative
3,260 Shelby
68 deaths, 29,083 negative
1,357 Trousdale
2 deaths, 1,611 negative
725 Rutherford
14 deaths, 7,226 negative
698 Sumner
38 deaths, 4,897 negative
604 Bledsoe
0 deaths, 3,112 negative
443 Williamson
10 deaths, 6,372 negative
300 Wilson
6 deaths, 3,461 negative
263 Knox
5 deaths, 9,357 negative
237 Bedford
3 deaths, 1,740 negative
233 Hamilton
13 deaths, 4,339 negative
218 Robertson
0 deaths, 2,173 negative
175 Putnam
5 deaths, 2,713 negative
174 Montgomery
2 deaths, 4,521 negative
159 Tipton
2 deaths, 1,834 negative
151 Hardeman
0 deaths, 2,136 negative
151 Madison
1 deaths, 3,571 negative
117 McMinn
5 deaths, 1,901 negative
86 Dickson
0 deaths, 1,439 negative
85 Cumberland
1 deaths, 2,289 negative
79 Fayette
1 deaths, 1,481 negative
71 Blount
3 deaths, 1,984 negative
69 Bradley
1 deaths, 1,524 negative
65 Sevier
2 deaths, 2,364 negative
63 Cheatham
0 deaths, 1,191 negative
61 Washington
0 deaths, 2,254 negative
59 Lake
0 deaths, 1,138 negative
58 Macon
3 deaths, 941 negative
55 Maury
0 deaths, 1,986 negative
54 Gibson
1 deaths, 1,553 negative
54 Sullivan
1 deaths, 2,282 negative
53 Coffee
0 deaths, 1,437 negative
52 Hickman
0 deaths, 668 negative
46 Greene
2 deaths, 1,161 negative
41 Dyer
0 deaths, 918 negative
41 Loudon
0 deaths, 870 negative
40 Franklin
1 deaths, 1,472 negative
31 Anderson
1 deaths, 2,764 negative
31 Hawkins
2 deaths, 1,074 negative
30 Grundy
1 deaths, 357 negative
29 Marion
1 deaths, 622 negative
28 Monroe
1 deaths, 579 negative
27 DeKalb
0 deaths, 820 negative
26 Haywood
1 deaths, 471 negative
26 Jefferson
0 deaths, 1,104 negative
26 Lauderdale
0 deaths, 785 negative
24 Marshall
1 deaths, 736 negative
24 Smith
1 deaths, 594 negative
24 Weakley
0 deaths, 730 negative
22 Meigs
0 deaths, 253 negative
21 Hamblen
2 deaths, 1,375 negative
20 Lawrence
0 deaths, 1,040 negative
19 Carroll
1 deaths, 780 negative
18 Carter
1 deaths, 968 negative
17 Campbell
1 deaths, 941 negative
17 Cocke
0 deaths, 636 negative
16 Lincoln
0 deaths, 817 negative
16 Obion
1 deaths, 570 negative
16 White
0 deaths, 827 negative
15 Henry
0 deaths, 836 negative
13 Cannon
0 deaths, 354 negative
13 Perry
0 deaths, 106 negative
12 Chester
0 deaths, 364 negative
12 Humphreys
1 deaths, 410 negative
12 Morgan
0 deaths, 2,584 negative
12 Polk
0 deaths, 337 negative
12 Warren
0 deaths, 1,214 negative
11 McNairy
0 deaths, 523 negative
11 Overton
0 deaths, 772 negative
11 Scott
0 deaths, 422 negative
10 Henderson
0 deaths, 717 negative
10 Jackson
0 deaths, 456 negative
9 Crockett
0 deaths, 367 negative
9 Giles
0 deaths, 684 negative
8 Hardin
0 deaths, 954 negative
8 Roane
0 deaths, 2,012 negative
7 Claiborne
0 deaths, 440 negative
7 Stewart
0 deaths, 234 negative
6 Benton
1 deaths, 477 negative
6 Clay
0 deaths, 282 negative
6 Fentress
0 deaths, 461 negative
6 Grainger
0 deaths, 372 negative
6 Houston
0 deaths, 208 negative
6 Rhea
0 deaths, 733 negative
6 Sequatchie
0 deaths, 737 negative
5 Johnson
0 deaths, 260 negative
4 Decatur
0 deaths, 215 negative
3 Moore
0 deaths, 208 negative
3 Unicoi
0 deaths, 341 negative
3 Union
0 deaths, 334 negative
3 Wayne
0 deaths, 301 negative
2 Lewis
0 deaths, 190 negative
2 Van Buren
0 deaths, 266 negative
1 Pickett
0 deaths, 199 negative
0 Hancock
0 deaths, 92 negative
14,096 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Tennessee, 6,783 recovered
Health May 7, 2020
In an effort to keep our readers, up to date with the latest number of cases confirmed in Tenn., Fetch Your News will continually be updating this article with the most recent updates from Tenn. Department of Health (TDH).
As of May 7, 2020 at 5:35 p.m., TDH reported 14,096 cases statewide, 237 deaths, and 6,783 recovered. The highest concentration is in Davidson with 3,157 cases, 31 deaths, and 1,601 recovered. TDH reported that 227,101 tests have been completed in the state.
Out of the positive cases around 9 percent have required hospitalization and 52 percent have recovered from home. Information about hospitalization status is gathered at the time of diagnosis, therefore this information may be incomplete. This number indicates the number of patients that were ever hospitalized during their illness, it does not indicate the number of patients currently hospitalized.
47 percent of cases have fully recovered from the virus. TDH defines “recovered” as people who (1) have been confirmed to be asymptomatic by their local or regional health department and have completed their required isolation period or (2)are at least 21 days beyond the first test confirming their illness.
Up to date map of COVID-19 spread in Tenn.
County Breakdown
3,157 Davidson
31 deaths, 19,632 negative
3,066 Shelby
64 deaths, 26,371 negative
1,356 Trousdale
2 deaths, 1,576 negative
672 Sumner
38 deaths, 4,340 negative
661 Rutherford
14 deaths, 6,487 negative
602 Bledsoe
0 deaths, 3,092 negative
434 Williamson
10 deaths, 5,908 negative
288 Wilson
6 deaths, 3,182 negative
253 Knox
5 deaths, 8,597 negative
217 Bedford
3 deaths, 1,629 negative
211 Hamilton
13 deaths, 3,919 negative
195 Robertson
0 deaths, 1,893 negative
162 Putnam
5 deaths, 2,381 negative
158 Tipton
2 deaths, 1,676 negative
155 Montgomery
2 deaths, 4,123 negative
145 Madison
1 deaths, 3,258 negative
108 McMinn
3 deaths, 1,755 negative
85 Dickson
0 deaths, 1,354 negative
84 Cumberland
1 deaths, 2,091 negative
73 Fayette
1 deaths, 1,349 negative
69 Blount
3 deaths, 1,856 negative
64 Bradley
1 deaths, 1,390 negative
63 Sevier
2 deaths, 2,168 negative
59 Lake
0 deaths, 1,109 negative
59 Washington
0 deaths, 2,106 negative
58 Cheatham
0 deaths, 1,097 negative
55 Macon
3 deaths, 842 negative
52 Gibson
1 deaths, 1,479 negative
52 Maury
0 deaths, 1,844 negative
52 Sullivan
1 deaths, 2,071 negative
48 Hickman
0 deaths, 630 negative
47 Coffee
0 deaths, 1,320 negative
43 Greene
2 deaths, 1,023 negative
39 Dyer
0 deaths, 864 negative
38 Loudon
0 deaths, 808 negative
37 Franklin
1 deaths, 1,398 negative
31 Anderson
1 deaths, 2,560 negative
31 Hawkins
2 deaths, 1,013 negative
30 Grundy
1 deaths, 339 negative
29 Marion
1 deaths, 594 negative
26 Haywood
1 deaths, 450 negative
26 Jefferson
0 deaths, 1,032 negative
26 Monroe
1 deaths, 536 negative
25 DeKalb
0 deaths, 735 negative
25 Lauderdale
0 deaths, 628 negative
24 Marshall
1 deaths, 699 negative
24 Weakley
0 deaths, 704 negative
23 Hardeman
0 deaths, 631 negative
23 Smith
1 deaths, 535 negative
20 Hamblen
2 deaths, 1,244 negative
19 Carroll
1 deaths, 751 negative
19 Lawrence
0 deaths, 979 negative
18 Carter
1 deaths, 864 negative
17 Cocke
0 deaths, 578 negative
17 Meigs
0 deaths, 213 negative
16 Campbell
1 deaths, 876 negative
16 Lincoln
0 deaths, 761 negative
16 White
0 deaths, 733 negative
15 Obion
1 deaths, 523 negative
14 Henry
0 deaths, 807 negative
13 Cannon
0 deaths, 332 negative
13 Perry
0 deaths, 96 negative
12 Polk
0 deaths, 278 negative
11 Humphreys
1 deaths, 380 negative
11 McNairy
0 deaths, 498 negative
11 Overton
0 deaths, 718 negative
11 Scott
0 deaths, 320 negative
10 Chester
0 deaths, 344 negative
10 Henderson
0 deaths, 691 negative
10 Warren
0 deaths, 1,134 negative
9 Giles
0 deaths, 656 negative
8 Jackson
0 deaths, 430 negative
8 Roane
0 deaths, 1,806 negative
7 Benton
1 deaths, 359 negative
7 Claiborne
0 deaths, 398 negative
7 Crockett
0 deaths, 349 negative
7 Hardin
0 deaths, 919 negative
7 Sequatchie
0 deaths, 700 negative
7 Stewart
0 deaths, 218 negative
6 Clay
0 deaths, 262 negative
6 Grainger
0 deaths, 346 negative
6 Houston
0 deaths, 199 negative
6 Morgan
0 deaths, 400 negative
6 Rhea
0 deaths, 668 negative
5 Fentress
0 deaths, 424 negative
5 Johnson
0 deaths, 125 negative
4 Decatur
0 deaths, 205 negative
4 Wayne
0 deaths, 287 negative
3 Moore
0 deaths, 193 negative
3 Union
0 deaths, 315 negative
2 Lewis
0 deaths, 167 negative
2 Unicoi
0 deaths, 318 negative
2 Van Buren
0 deaths, 243 negative
0 Hancock
0 deaths, 87 negative
0 Pickett
0 deaths, 184 negative
DPH Release – Expanded Testing For COVID-19 In Georgia
Featured, Health April 15, 2020
Revised Testing Criteria and Increased Number of Test Sites
Atlanta – The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is increasing the number of specimen
collection sites statewide for COVID-19 testing, and is revising the current testing criteria to
accommodate more testing of Georgia residents.
Effective immediately, all symptomatic individuals will be eligible for COVID-19 testing. Health
care workers, first responders, law enforcement and long-term care facility residents and staff will
still be prioritized for testing regardless of whether they are or are not symptomatic.
Referrals are still required, however, there are now two ways to be referred to a DPH specimen
collection site:
Local Health Department –
Individuals who meet COVID-19 testing criteria may now be referred to DPH specimen collection
sites by contacting their local health department. They will be screened by appropriate health
department staff and referred to the closest, most convenient specimen collection site.
Contact information for local health departments can be found on the DPH homepage, under COVID-19 in Georgia.
Health Care Provider Referral –
Health care providers and/or physicians can and should continue to refer patients for COVID-19
testing.
People should not arrive unannounced or without a scheduled appointment at a specimen
collection site, hospital, emergency room or other health care facility. Only individuals who have
been evaluated by public health or a health care provider and assigned a PUI # number will
be referred to these drive-thru sites.
Together we can stop further spread of COVID-19 in our state and save lives.
Stay home – the Governor has issued a shelter-in-place Executive Order that should be observed
by all residents and visitors.
Practice social distancing – keep at least 6 feet between yourself and other people.
Wash your hands – use soap and water and scrub for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based
hand sanitizer (60% alcohol) if soap and water aren’t readily available.
Wear a mask – the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend the use of face
masks to help slow the spread of COVID-19, especially where socials distancing is difficult to
maintain (grocery stores, pharmacies, etc.), and especially in areas of significant community-
based transmission.
For more information about COVID-19 Click here or
Click Here.
For updates on the COVID-19 situation as it develops, follow @GaDPH, @GeorgiaEMA, and
@GovKemp on Twitter and @GaDPH, @GEMA.OHS, and @GovKemp on Facebook.
New Data Supports Social Distancing Now More Than Ever
Featured, Health, News April 3, 2020
News Release from the Department of Public Health – April 2, 2020
Atlanta – As Governor Brian Kemp and DPH Commissioner Kathleen E. Toomey, M.D.,
M.P.H., finalize the details of the Executive Order requiring Georgians to shelter in place, it is
important to emphasize why these measures are needed now to keep all Georgians healthy and
safe and to stop the spread of COVID-19.
For weeks it has been known that people who were positive for COVID-19 but did not have
symptoms likely were able to transmit the virus. However, on March 30, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Robert Redfield, M.D., confirmed that new data indicates
that as many as 25% of individuals infected with COVID-19 remain asymptomatic. Additionally,
science also now informs us that individuals who are symptomatic, are infectious up to 48
hours before symptoms appear. This new information tells the health care community,
medical researchers, public health and governments why COVID-19 is spreading so rapidly.
“Until now, containing the spread of COVID-19 has been based on early detection and isolation
of people with symptoms of the virus,” said Toomey. “Social distancing and keeping people
apart from each other are now more than just recommendations; they are the best weapons we
have to stop the spread of COVID-19.”
In addition to social distancing, all Georgians are reminded to wash their hands frequently and
thoroughly with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (60% alcohol) when
soap and water aren’t available. Avoid touching your face, nose, mouth, and eyes with
unwashed hands. Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, and throw the used tissue in
the trash.
To read more about the presymptomatic transmission of COVID-19:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/clinical-guidance-management-patients.html
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6914e1.htm?s_cid=mm6914e1_w
For more information about COVID-19 https://dph.georgia.gov/novelcoronavirus or
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.
For updates on the COVID-19 situation as it develops, follow @GaDPH, @GeorgiaEMA, and
@GovKemp on Twitter and @GaDPH, @GEMA.OHS, and @GovKemp on Facebook.