News today that there are now two confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Habersham County was met with trepidation but little surprise. Last week the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) listed Habersham County as having a confirmed case. Seven hours later, the state agency reversed course. That didn’t happen this time.
At noon today, the Georgia map on the DPH website that people have come to religiously check daily had Habersham County shaded in green. It remains green as of the latest report at 7 p.m. [The map is color-coded to indicate infection rates in each of Georgia’s 159 counties.]
Rabun County also is now shaded green. DPH reports there are two confirmed cases there.
There now are fewer than two dozen counties in Georgia that are still white on the map, indicating they have no confirmed cases of COVID-19. Three of those counties are in Northeast Georgia. They are Elbert, Towns, and Union.
I don’t know what we have to do in order to get people to stay home. We have advised, begged and pleaded but for some, that does not work. – HCES Director Chad Black
The Department of Public Health, which handles data collection on COVID-19 cases statewide, does not give out personal details about patients who test positive, nor do healthcare providers due to patient confidentiality. The only thing that is publicly known at this time about the confirmed cases in Habersham is that the individuals were not tested at Habersham Medical Center (HMC) and are not being treated at the hospital in Demorest, according to HMC spokesperson Kesha Clinkscale.
Local healthcare professionals continue to urge people to follow the recommended public health guidelines for their safety and the safety of others.
“We would like to stress the importance of exercising active social distancing, proper hand hygiene, cough etiquette, and disinfecting surfaces,” Clinkscale says.
Habersham County stays the course
Despite Habersham’s change in status from no confirmed cases to two, there will be no immediate changes to how Habersham County is handling this pandemic.
Habersham County Commission Chair Stacy Hall issued this statement after the DPH noon report was released on March 31:
“I have been in communication with other Commissioners, our County Manager and our EMS Director this afternoon. Nothing changes related to our Emergency Declaration and our recent Resolution. We remain firm in that folks need to shelter in place unless absolutely necessary. Our first responders, hospital and law enforcement are prepared. But we are strongly urging folks to use common sense and avoid gatherings of 10 or more, wash hands often, practice social distancing and again, stay home as much as possible.”
While the change in status does not alter the county’s emergency order, Commissioner Natalie Crawford says “it does underscore the absolute importance for us to shelter in place.”
“I truly hope that all of Habersham will join together in taking care of themselves and each other,” she says.
The stay at home order for Habersham County residents remains in effect through April 11. Officials are frustrated because many people are not following it. Habersham County Emergency Services Director Chad Black insists “people have to take this seriously.”
“Yes, we are testing more but the numbers for our state are concerning. Hall County doubled their positive cases overnight, so we are going to see this get worse of course before we see it improve,” Black tells Now Habersham.
He says the county’s emergency services are monitoring the situation and “adapting our processes to changes” as the virus continues to spread. The county has a full-scale Incident Action Plan to COVID-19 if required “but we pray that does not come to be a reality for our department,” Black says.
Clarkesville imposes restrictions
Clarkesville announced today that it’s implementing stricter measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. City Hall is now closed to the public. Employees are still working, though, and may be reached by phone during normal business hours. All city services “will continue as usual,” Mayor Barrie Aycock says.
The walking trails and open areas in Sam Pitts Park and the Greenway in Clarkesville will remain open for now, but users are expected to observe the six-foot distance restrictions included in Gov. Kemp’s executive order. The playground at Pitts Park is closed.
The Demorest City Council canceled a special called meeting it had scheduled for tonight to discuss the city’s response to the coronavirus. A notice sent out late Tuesday afternoon by the city says the meeting was canceled “due to concerns over the COVID-19 crisis.”
Demorest Mayor Rick Austin instead delivered a videotaped message to the community.
The Town of Mt. Airy also canceled its scheduled meeting on April 6. City Clerk Sheri Berong issued a statement saying that meeting “has been postponed indefinitely.”
