Coronavirus updates: Columbus company donates $20K to help food workers, more news for March 31
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus in the Chattahoochee Valley. Check back for updates.
B&B Beverage Company donates $20,000 to Giving Kitchen
Anheuser-Busch has partnered with B&B Beverage Company in Columbus, Georgia to donate $20,000 to Giving Kitchen in an effort to support the Georgia food service community amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It is a crucial time for Giving Kitchen as we continue facing this global pandemic and how GK serves our communities in Georgia,” Jen Hidinger-Kendrick, co-founder, spokesperson, & community engagement director of Giving Kitchen, said. “The funds provided from B&B Beverage Co. are vital for the life and stability of GK.”
Giving Kitchen (GK) is a nonprofit organization that provides emergency assistance to food service workers through financial support and a network of community resources in order to create a community where crisis is met with compassion and care.
Since its inception, GK has served over 3,000 food service workers in Georgia. For more information about Giving Kitchen, visit givingkitchen.org.
SafeHouse Ministries opens emergency shelter
SafeHouse Ministries at 2101 Hamilton Road has opened an emergency shelter. The emergency shelter will operate daily from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m. They are accepting anyone in need of shelter regardless of their situation, including, men, women, children and anyone symptomatic. No questions asked, no one refused.
Six people died of the coronavirus at East Alabama hospital in three days, reports say
In a span of three days, six people died of the novel coronavirus at the East Alabama Medical Center in Lee County.
The Opelika-Auburn News reports four of the six people who died were from Chambers County and two were from Lee County. Only one death from Chambers County has been counted by Alabama Public Health as of 5 p.m. March 30. AL.com reported March 29 that these six deaths occurred over a three-day span.
State health officials have reported 6 confirmed COVID-19-related deaths across Alabama.
100 coronavirus cases reported in Columbus, surrounding counties
Muscogee County and its surrounding areas saw 23 new coronavirus, or COVID-19, cases in the noon Tuesday update from Georgia’s Department of Public Health.
A total of 100 cases were reported in our immediate area, according to the updates.
Brian Kemp, University System of Georgia announce coronavirus testing ramp-up
A group of universities in the state of Georgia will now aid state labs in processing coronavirus, or COVID-19, test kits, Governor Brian Kemp announced Tuesday.
Called a “laboratory surge capacity plan,” this new initiative utilizes the labs and resources already under the University System of Georgia, Georgia Public Health Laboratory and Emory University.
The ramp-up begins Tuesday. Upon implementation, labs will process over 3,000 samples per day.
This story was originally published March 31, 2020 at 11:27 AM.
