Georgia has 17 coronavirus cases. What does that mean for Columbus?
There are no positive or presumptive positive COVID-19 tests in the Columbus area as the number of cases in Georgia continues to increase, according to health officials.
On March 2, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, Department of Public Health Commissioner Kathleen Toomey and other state officials confirmed Georgia’s first cases. Two Fulton County residents tested positive for the disease.
The first two people live in the same household, and one of them returned from Italy, where there’s an ongoing outbreak. Both have mild symptoms, and they are isolated at home with other relatives to prevent the illness from spreading, according to a news release from the governor’s office.
As of March 10, 17 people have now tested positive for COVID-19 in eight counties: Cherokee, Cobb, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Fayette, Floyd, Fulton, and Polk. Some of those tests have yet to be confirmed by the CDC, the Associated Press reports
“We knew that Georgia would likely have confirmed cases of COVID-19, and we planned for it. The immediate risk of COVID-19 to the general public, however, remains low at this time,” Toomey said last week.
Pamela Kirkland, a spokesperson for the state Department of Health’s West Central Health District, said last week agencies are doing everything they can to prepare in case of an outbreak. The district covers several counties in the area, including Muscogee County. Columbus officials held a news conference Feb. 28 to brief the public on coronavirus risks and preparation.
Kirkland said people should be doing “common sense things” like staying home if you’re sick, washing your hands for at least 20 seconds, sneezing or coughing into a tissue or the pit of your elbow, and getting information about the illness from a credible source.
“The best thing for people to do is go to the (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) website because they are updating as soon as they get information,” she said. “The CDC is a credible source.”
Businesses in Columbus have taken precautions as well. Aflac has limited international travel in both the United States and Japan “to only critical instances,” said company spokesperson Jon Sullivan. The restrictions are expected to be in effect until at least March 31.
Global Payments placed a company-wide moratorium on corporate travel to Asia Pacific countries, excluding Australia and New Zealand, in early February. The company is working with team members in China, Asia, U.K., Ireland and the Netherlands, giving them sanitizer and enabling some of them to work from home if possible, said spokesperson Emily Edmonds.
“During this time, we also implemented a self-quarantine requirement for any team member who recently traveled to China and is returning to another country to work from home and monitor symptoms for at least fourteen days. Recently, we added South Korea, Italy and Iran to the quarantine,” she said in a statement.
New Army recruits arriving at basic training sites will be screened for potential coronavirus exposure starting March 3. The Army ran rehearsals to screen for the virus at four basic training sites, including nearby Fort Benning, reports McClatchy.
Columbus State University has canceled spring and summer international programs in China, South Korea and Italy. The university has also advised faculty to cancel any travel plans to these counties, said spokesperson Gregory Hudgison.
State health officials said symptoms of the illness appear within two to 14 days after exposure and include fever, cough, runny nose and difficulty breathing.
“Those considered at risk for contracting the virus are individuals with travel to areas where there are ongoing outbreaks of COVID-19 or individuals in close contact with a person infected with COVID-19,” according to the news release.
As of early March 10, Johns Hopkins University reported more than 116,000 of COVID-19 were confirmed globally. Nearly 81,000 were in China. In the United States, 761 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed, and 27 people have died. Of the 27, 23 died in Washington. Two died in California, and 2 died in Florida.
The state Department of Public Health recommends residents taking the following steps:
▪ Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least twenty seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
▪ Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
▪ Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
▪ Stay home when you are sick.
▪ Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
▪ Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
▪ If you have recently traveled to areas where there are ongoing outbreaks of COVID-19 and develop fever with cough and shortness of breath within fourteen days of your travel, or if you have had contact with someone who is suspected to have COVID-19, stay home and call your health care provider or local health department right away. Be sure to call before going to a doctor’s office, emergency room, or urgent care center and tell them about your recent travel and your symptoms.
▪ It’s not too late for a flu shot. The flu is still widespread in Georgia. While the flu shot will not protect against COVID-19, it will prevent serious complications that require hospitalization and prevent overburdening the health care system in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak.
This story was originally published March 3, 2020 at 1:30 PM.