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Confirmed COVID-19 cases rises to 10 in White County.
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in White County has risen to 10.
The information came from the evening update Tuesday, April 7, on the Georgia Department of Public Health's website. With this update, there are now 9,156 confirmed cases in Georgia, 1,899 people hospitalized and 348 deaths.
“We know that increased testing means the number of positive cases will increase. But along with that, we are also seeing further spread of COVID-19 throughout Georgia,” said DPH Commissioner Kathleen Toomey. “We can stop the spread of COVID-19 in Georgia, but every Georgian must take personal responsibility now and follow the prevention guidance to keep this deadly virus from taking any more precious lives.”
The first confirmed case in White County was reported by DPH on Wednesday, March 25. On Tuesday, March 31, the number had risen to three confirmed cases in White County. On Saturday, April 4, there were four confirmed cases in White County. The April 7 noon update from DPH showed nine confirmed cases.
A press release from Gov. Brian Kemp and the Georgia Hospital Association on March 11 about patient privacy stated:
"While we continue to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, we are asking all Georgians to continue to rely on the information coming from the Governor's Office, the Georgia Department of Public Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We will continue to operate with transparency and provide the most up-to-date and accurate information regarding the spread of the virus to ensure that Georgia families have the information they need to remain safe and healthy.
"As we do so, we ask all members of the public and the media to remain patient and respect the privacy of those who have been hospitalized or are in isolation due to exposure to COVID-19. It's important to note that, under penalty of law, hospitals and other healthcare providers are not allowed to share private health information. Respecting these legal guidelines is crucial to streamlining healthcare operations and ensuring that care for patients continues without interruption. We are in this fight together, and with cooperation from all stakeholders, we will continue to put the health and safety of Georgians first."
The Georgia Department of Public Health provide updates twice a day, at noon and 7 p.m. Confirmed patients are listed based on their residence and DPH does not provide any additional information.
State Public Health officials are calling on all Georgians to do their part to stop further spread of this deadly virus:
• Stay home – the Governor has issued a shelter-in-place Executive Order that should be observed by all residents and visitors.
• Practice social distancing – keep at least 6 feet between yourself and other people.
• Wash your hands – use soap and water and scrub for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (60% alcohol) if soap and water aren’t readily available.
• Wear a mask – The CDC now recommends the use of face masks to help slow the spread of COVID-19, especially where socials distancing is difficult to maintain (grocery stores, pharmacies, etc.), and especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. The CDC also advises the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.
Continuing coverage of the COVID-19 can be found on whitecountnews.net and in the latest edition of the White County News.