Coronavirus live updates: Columbus organizations start relief fund, other news for March 26
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus in the Chattahoochee Valley. Check back for updates.
United Way, Community Foundation announce Coronavirus Response Fund
The Community Foundation has announced the establishment of a Coronavirus Response Fund. The Fund, hosted in partnership with United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley, will provide flexible resources to organizations in the Columbus area working with the city’s most vulnerable citizens: members of communities who are disproportionately impacted by coronavirus (COVID-19) and the economic consequences of this outbreak.
This philanthropic response will work closely with government, business partners and other philanthropic resources to help the Response Fund rapidly deploy resources to community-based organizations at the front lines of our area’s current coronavirus pandemic.
Global Payments (TSYS) will match donations to the fund up to $100,000. The company will match individual donations dollar-for-dollar, up to $2,000 per gift.
To contribute to the fund electronically, click here. For details on the fund and additional ways to give, visit cfcv.com/coronavirus.
Some Columbus Wells Fargo locations closing
Several Wells Fargo locations in the Columbus-Phenix City area are either closing or going appointment-only.
Wells Fargo at 101 13th Street is temporarily closed.
These locations are restricting lobby access to appointment-only.
- 616 13th Street (Phenix City)
- 1014 280 Bypass (Phenix City)
- 3217 Macon Road
- 3436 Victory Drive
- 3471 Courtyard Way
- 5538 Whittlesey Boulevard
- 6861 Wold Avenue, Building 109
- 5590 Milgen Road
Coronavirus forces Waffle House locations to close
Over 400 Waffle House locations have closed throughout the United States due to the coronavirus, including two in the Chattahoochee Valley.
According to the Waffle House store locator page, both the Bradley Park Drive location, 1646A Bradley Park Drive, as well as one Phenix City location, 3603 Highway 280/431 North, are closed.
The Bradley Park Drive Waffle House closed Tuesday. Signs were seen posted in the window encouraging patrons to go to nearby locations instead.
Columbus-area school districts donate thousands of supplies needed to combat COVID-19
While schools are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, two local school districts have donated masks and other personal protective equipment for healthcare workers and first-responders to use in the fight against COVID-19.
The Muscogee County School District donated the following items Wednesday to the Columbus Emergency Management Division:
- 7,740 gloves
- 1,185 masks
- 620 wipes
- 362 gowns
- 300 shoe covers
- 300 bouffant covers
- 100 caps
- 64 protection kits
- 6 protective blankets
The Harris County School District donated the following items to the Air Evac Lifeteam in Americus:
- 1,050 pairs of gloves
- 762 masks
- 100 protection kits
- 50 gowns
Georgia reporting 48 deaths, more than 1,500 coronavirus cases
The Georgia Department of Public Health at noon Thursday confirmed 1,525 cases of COVID-19 in the state, up by 138 from 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Forty-eight people have now died from the novel coronavirus in Georgia. One new death was reported overnight.
The Georgia Public Health Laboratory and private labs have conducted a total of 8,926 COVID-19 tests as of noon March 26. The state has tested 1,646 people. Private labs have tested 7,280 state officials said.
The state health department reports 473 people have been hospitalized due to the virus.
Kemp orders all Georgia public schools closed through April 24
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp issued an executive order Thursday closing public elementary and secondary schools for in-person instruction through April 24 due to growing concern about the new coronavirus spread throughout the state.
Students may return to school April 27, according to the order.
The University System of Georgia and Technical College System of Georgia will remain closed for in-person instruction through the rest of the semester since students have already transitioned to all online learning, the news release says.
While Kemp had been leaving any closure decisions up to local school districts, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey had ordered her state’s schools closed until April 6. Now, Alabama schools superintendent Eric Mackey is expected to announce today whether schools will reopen then or extend their shutdown, according to the Montgomery Advertiser.
United Way and partners providing meals during spring break
United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley, in partnership with the Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley and a group of community partners, are working to help meet the nutritional needs of children over spring break, while Muscogee County School District is closed.
Students will receive a Buddy Pack on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday of next week. Funding for the Buddy Packs is provided by the support of The Arby’s Foundation in partnership with The Coronavirus Response Fund. Each Buddy Pack will include two days worth of kid friendly food. Meals will be available, through a grab-and-go service, to all children up to 18 years old. Students must be present to receive a Buddy Pack.
Student meals will be provided each day, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the following sites:
- Baker Middle School
- Carver High School
- Chase Homes
- Dawson Elementary School
- Double Churches Middle School
- Eagle Trace Apartments
- Elizabeth Canty Apartments
- Fox Elementary School
- J.D. Davis Elementary School
- Jordan High School
- Kendrick High School (front of school area)
- Key Elementary School
- Midland Academy
- Spencer High School
- Warren Williams Apartments
- Whisperwood Apartments
- Wilson Apartments
First coronavirus-related death reported in Columbus area is Troup County woman
A 61-year-old Troup County woman is the first coronavirus-related death reported in the Columbus area.
The Georgia Department of Public Health reported the woman’s death Thursday.
State health officials said she had an underlying medical condition.
Hayla Folden, spokesperson for District 4 Public Health, said the woman died Wednesday and her COVID-19 test came back positive Thursday. District 4 covers 12 counties in west Georgia, including Troup County.
Lee County has 45 confirmed coronavirus cases
Lee County, Alabama, has 45 confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Thursday morning, up 24 cases from noon Tuesday.
State health officials report there are now 472 confirmed cases statewide. Alabama’s first death related to COVID-19 occurred Wednesday, according to a statement from Governor Kay Ivey issued via Twitter.
The state reports 4,082 COVID-19 tests have been conducted by state and private labs as of 2 p.m. EST Thursday.
This story was originally published March 26, 2020 at 10:03 AM.
