The exploding number of COVID-19 cases in Habersham has put the county’s emergency services system under tremendous strain. Officials are now asking the public to please use caution and only dial 911 if there is a “true medical emergency.”
According to a county statement released Thursday, local emergency services have been “stretched to their limits.” All hospitals south of Gainesville are diverting ambulances to other hospitals.
While Habersham Medical Center in Demorest and Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville are full, they are still accepting ambulance patients. However, wait times to off-load patients in Gainesville can stretch to an hour or more for those not serious or critical.
HMC Vice-President of Culture and Wellness Kesha Clinkscale says wait times at the Demorest facility are “comparable to what they have been in the past.”
As Northeast Georgia’s COVID crisis continues to mount, Habersham County Emergency Services says it’s ready to assist people. However, the department urges those in non-emergent situations to “use your best judgment and seek care for minor ailments with a local physician at an Urgent Care Center.”
