COVID cases remain low going into the holiday
As families in Gordon County and across Georgia prepare to gather to celebrate Thanksgiving, COVID-19 cases remain steady.
This past week, Gordon County saw 33 new cases and two deaths. Across Georgia, 5,358 new cases and 229 deaths were reported.
Case counts are higher this week than the previous two weeks, but are still promising compared to counts earlier in the year.
Countrywide, cases are much lower this Thanksgiving than the previous year, when a winter surge of cases was underway. National ensemble forecasts from the CDC appear to predict steady case counts through Dec. 11.
As of Nov. 19, Gordon County Schools reported five cases in students and two cases in staff. Calhoun City Schools reported six cases in students and no cases in staff.
These numbers are a decrease from the previous week’s case counts, and overall counts in both systems remain in single digits as they move into Thanksgiving break.
As part of continued efforts to keep slowing the spread of COVID-19, the CDC has announced that it will be expanding eligibility for all COVID-19 vaccine boosters.
“After critical scientific evaluation, today’s unanimous decision carefully considered the current state of the pandemic, the latest vaccine effectiveness data over time, and review of safety data from people who have already received a COVID-19 primary vaccine series and booster,” said CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, M.D., M.P.H. “Booster shots have demonstrated the ability to safely increase people’s protection against infection and severe outcomes and are an important public health tool to strengthen our defenses against the virus as we enter the winter holidays. Based on the compelling evidence, all adults over 18 should now have equitable access to a COVID-19 booster dose.”
The CDC encourages older Americans and those with underlying medical conditions in particular to get their vaccines before the holidays. They also report that approximately 47 million adults have not been vaccinated, and continue to encourage those individuals to get vaccinated.
Around 69% of the US population has had at least one dose of the vaccine, while 59% are fully vaccinated. Georgia sits at 57% and 51%, respectively, while Gordon County is at 41% with at least one dose and 37% fully vaccinated, well below both state and national averages.
The Georgia DPH recommends planning ahead and taking steps to minimize risk of transmitting both COVID-19 and the flu this holiday season.
The best protection against COVID and the flu is vaccination, and the
vaccines can be administered at the same time. People are considered fully vaccinated for COVID two weeks after their second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, or two weeks after the single-dose J&J COVID-19 vaccine. Likewise, it takes about two weeks after getting a flu vaccine for antibodies that protect against flu to develop in the body.
For young children who aren’t yet eligible for the COVID vaccine, reduce the risk of exposure by making sure the people around them are vaccinated.
♦ Wear well-fitting masks over your nose and mouth if you are in public indoor settings if you are not fully vaccinated. People who are fully vaccinated should wear a mask in public indoor settings in communities with substantial to high transmission.
♦ Outdoor activities are safer than indoor activities.
♦ Avoid crowded, poorly ventilated spaces.
♦ Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm
water. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water aren’t available.
♦ If you are sick or have symptoms of COVID-19 or the flu, don’t host or attend a gathering.
♦ Get tested if you have symptoms of COVID-19 or have a close contact with someone who has COVID-19.
♦ If you are not fully vaccinated for COVID and must travel, follow the CDC’s recommendations.
♦ Everyone, even people who are fully vaccinated for COVID, is required to wear a mask on public transportation and follow international travel recommendations.
“Holiday traditions are important for families and children,” said GDPH in a news release. “By working together, we can enjoy safer holidays, travel, and protect our own health as well as the health of our family and friends.”
As with the vaccine mandate for federal contractors and the OSHA vaccine mandate, Governor Brian Kemp and Attorney
General Chris Carr have filed suit against the Biden Administration for its vaccine mandate for healthcare workers.
“After healthcare heroes went above and beyond the call of duty to keep Americans safe and healthy throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Joe Biden is now threatening their livelihood if they refuse COVID-19 vaccination,” said Governor Kemp. “Yet another unlawful mandate from this administration will only worsen worker shortages in a critical-need area as we continue to balance the everyday healthcare needs of hardworking Georgians and fighting COVID-19. We will continue to fight this repeated, unconstitutional overreach by Joe Biden and his administration in court.”
On Oct. 29, Kemp and Carr filed a suit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia (Augusta Division) against the vaccine mandate for federal contractors, with a hearing regarding a preliminary
injunction due on Dec. 7. On Nov. 5, Kemp and Carr filed against the more overarching vaccine mandate for companies with 100 or more employees.
“President Biden’s reckless ‘one-size-fits-most’ approach to governing continues to create immense disruption and uncertainty for Georgia businesses and employees,” said Attorney General Carr. “With this latest unconstitutional mandate, the Biden administration is targeting a health care community that is already reeling from the impacts of a global health pandemic. Georgia health care providers, particularly those located in our rural areas, cannot afford to lose workers or lessen care services due to the unlawful actions of the federal government. We will continue to stand up for the rule of law and defend against this blanket mandate as we work to protect the citizens of this state.”
The Biden Administration’s mandates cover approximately two-thirds of
the American workforce or around 84 million people, including 17 million healthcare workers. Georgia joins Louisiana, Montana, Arizona, Alabama, Idaho, Indiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah and West Virginia in the lawsuit against the mandate.
To schedule a COVID-19 vaccine or booster appointment, log on to dph.georgia.gov/covid-vaccine or call 888-457-0186 for the Health Department Vaccine Scheduling Resource Line. The Gordon County Health Department, 310 N. River Street, Calhoun, is now offering flu shots on a walk-in basis.
Anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, or those who have been in close contact with an individual with COVID-19, should be tested regardless of vaccination status. At DPH/Mako Medical test sites, testing is free of charge.
To find a COVID-19 test site, log on to dph.georgia. gov/covidtesting.