Macon-Bibb mayor: It’s not a time to panic
Macon-Bibb County Mayor Robert Reichert held a press conference Thursday to address concerns about the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Macon-Bibb County.
“When the enemy is at the gates, it’s not a time to panic. Rather, it’s a time to review our strategy, modify and update it as necessary, and work together to get through this challenge, and we will get through this challenge,” Reichert said.
Most people who contract the virus will have mild symptoms, but for the elderly and medically fragile people, the illness could be more serious, Reichert said.
“That has been our focus up to this point that is to avoid spreading this virus to our most susceptible citizens,” Reichert said.
The symptoms for the new coronavirus are a fever, cough and shortness of breath.
“If you’re having those symptoms, for Pete’s sake, stay home,” Reichert said.
He said people should continue social distancing, avoid large crowds, wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water, avoid touching their faces and cover their mouths with their elbows when needing to cough or sneeze.
People should not call 911 unless there is an emergency, and people who believe they have the coronavirus should not arrive at a hospital unannounced, Reichert said.
“We ask for people’s patience. In these uncertain times and when things are changing, frustration is likely to happen, and we want to encourage people to be patient, to be kind and considerate and look out for your neighbor,” he said.
Macon-Bibb County has closed its recreation centers and limited public access to the court systems. The libraries have been closed, and the Macon Centreplex has canceled events at the Macon Coliseum and Macon City Auditorium.
Bibb County Schools have moved to a distance learning formation, and the Cherry Blossom Festival has been canceled. But the mayor did not announce he was ordering bars and restaurants to close, as other cities and some states have done.
Reichert said they knew Macon-Bibb County would eventually receive a case of the coronavirus, but he believes the community has delayed its arrival.
“I truly believe, and this comes from talking with our health officials, that the steps we have taken as a community have had a major impact on our first confirmation being today rather than days or weeks ago. We have managed to blunt the curve and to slow the spread of this virus, and that is commendable,” Reichert said.
The North Central Health District announced Thursday morning that Macon-Bibb County had its first confirmed case of COVID-19, and the patient is receiving care at The Medical Center at Navicent Health.
Navicent Health is caring for both the Macon-Bibb County resident and a Peach County resident who tested positive for the new coronavirus. The patients have no travel history, so the source of the exposure is unknown.
The NCHD is working to find out how the individuals were exposed to the virus.
A Houston County healthcare worker was the first reported case of coronavirus in Middle Georgia. It was followed by two cases in Laurens County and the two cases in Bibb and Peach counties.
The Georgia Department of Public Health confirmed 287 cases of COVID-19 in Georgia on Thursday, and the majority of those cases are in the metro Atlanta area.