Coronavirus live updates: What to know about COVID-19 in Middle Georgia on March 25
As COVID-19 continues to impact local schools, business and governments, the Telegraph is working to keep our readers informed about decisions that will impact them. This list will be updated throughout the day. If there’s an item you believe should be included in this list, please email breaking@macon.com.
Here is what you need to know about how the novel coronavirus is affecting Middle Georgia:
First death from COVID-19 confirmed in Middle Georgia
The death is the first related to the new coronavirus in the North Central Health District’s 13 county area, which includes Macon-Bibb, Peach, Twiggs, Monroe, Baldwin, Jones and Washington counties. The individual’s identity will not be released by the NCHD, but he was a 64-year-old Houston County resident.
Robins Air Force Base has three confirmed cases
RAFB confirmed Wednesday afternoon that three employees have tested positive for COVID-19. Those individuals reside in Houston and Hentry counties.
Macon-Bibb County Recreation Dept. offering online classes
With county recreation facilities shut down due by Mayor Robert Reichert’s executive order, the Bibb County Recreation Department has begun providing health and wellness classes via Facebook Live.
Five days a week, the county will broadcast a class at 11 a.m. and a recorded video will be posted around 3 p.m. Here are the remaining classes for this week (the schedule will change each week):
Wednesday
- Frank Johnson Recreation Center @ 2 p.m. – Cooking w/Kids
- Bloomfield-Gilead Recreation Center @ 3 p.m. – Wellness information
Thursday
- Freedom Park Recreation Center @ 11 a.m. – Boxing Technics
- Rosa Jackson Recreation Center @ 3 p.m. – Household Arts & Craft
Friday
- Delores A. Brooks Recreation Center @ 11 a.m. – Interactive Storytime
- Memorial Park Recreation Center @ 3 p.m. – Arts and Craft
Local hospitals change visitation policies
Starting today, the following hospitals will only allow one essential visitor to protect other visitors, patients and healthcare providers during the COVID-19 pandemic:
- Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital, Navicent Health
- The Medical Center, Navicent Health
- Medical Center of Peach County, Navicent Health
- Navicent Health Baldwin
- Rehabilitation Hospital, Navicent Health
- Monroe County Hospital, Navicent Health Partner
- Putnam General Hospital, Navicent Health Partner
- Coliseum Medical Centers
- Coliseum Northside Hospital
- Houston Medical Center
- Perry Hospital
What is an “essential visitor?” Navicent Health and Houston Healthcare defines them as individuals accompanying the following kinds of patients:
- Minor patients under the age of 18
- Patients at end of life/in hospice and/or palliative care
- Patients who need a healthcare decision maker or visitor to help with communication and/or mobility
- Patients in labor and delivery and/or family birth centers (including partner and birth coach)
- Patients in intensive care
For more details and updated hospital policies, visit the following websites:
Navicent Health launches online screening program
Navicent Health created an online COVID-19 risk assessment tool for people worried about their risk for the new coronavirus. Here’s more from the hospital:
“The risk assessment will ask general screening questions typically asked at one of Navicent Health’s clinical points of entry. Once the assessment is complete, the tool will offer suggestions based on the user’s responses, including
- Reviewing any symptoms
- When to contact your primary care provider
- When to contact one of Navicent Health’s Urgent Care Centers
Additional COVID-19 resources may be found at www.navicenthealth.org, including Navicent Health’s visitation policy and an FAQ on COVID-19.”
Middle Georgia case numbers
The Telegraph will provide updates twice a day on the number of cases reported from Middle Georgia counties following the state’s noon and 7 p.m. updates.
Statewide case numbers
The Telegraph will also provide updates twice a day on the number of cases reported across the state, and update the live map below. This story and map are based on the most recent information from the Georgia Department of Public Health.
Emergency declarations
Several cities and counties in Middle Georgia have declared states of emergencies and placed restrictions on certain businesses and public gatherings, including Macon-Bibb County and Warner Robins.
Restaurants still providing delivery, to-go service
Amid the shutdown, area restaurants are still providing curbside, deliver and to-go service. Here’s a list of local, downtown Macon restaurants that are still operating during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This story was originally published March 25, 2020 at 9:11 AM.