Bibb County reports improved testing, COVID-19 case rate
The Georgia Department of Public Health released updated COVID-19 case, laboratory testing and emergency department visitation data Monday, noting which counties have reported high transmission rates or are susceptible to significant spread.
According to Monday’s County Indicator Report, Bibb County has reported more than 6,000 cumulative coronavirus cases, including 111 between Sept. 19-25 and 244 between Sept. 12-18. The county’s 14-day case rate per 100,000 people is 232, compared to 174 in Houston County and 216 in Peach County.
Over the past two weeks, the county’s positivity rate for PCR COVID-19 tests was 8.1%: having a rate below 10% indicates a sufficient number of people are being tested. Last week, the percentage of emergency department visits in Bibb County ERs related to COVID-19 dropped to 1%. Coliseum Health System is currently treating 22 patients for COVID-19.
In Middle Georgia, only Twiggs County has indications of high coronavirus transmission, according to the health department. Twiggs also has a 14.6% test positivity rate.
Middle Georgia Cases
The Georgia Department of Public Health reported 17,729 cumulative COVID-19 cases in Middle Georgia in its 3 p.m. update Tuesday.
Here are key takeaways:
Cases: 17,729. Bibb County has recorded the most cumulative positive cases with 6,075.
Deaths: 569. It’s important to note that these numbers indicate when deaths are reported to the Georgia Department of Public Health. It does not reflect when these deaths occurred.
Hospitalizations: In Region F, which includes Bibb County and much of Middle Georgia, 75.59% of hospital beds were in use, 83.89% of ICU beds were in use and 31.72% of adult ventilators were in use.
Cases per person: Baldwin County has the most cases per 100,000 with 4803. Bibb is next with 3992 cases per 100,000 people. Crawford has one of the lowest rates in the state, with 1357 per 100,000.
County Indicator Report: Twiggs County is currently listed as a high transmission county and Washington County is listed as an emerging county. An emerging county has seen a greater than 5% increase in COVID cases from the previous seven day period. A high transmission county has a 14-day cases rate of more than 100 cases for 100,000 county residents and an average of more than 10% in positive tests results during that 14 day period. No other counties in Middle Georgia meet these criteria according to the report.
The following is a breakdown of cumulative cases and deaths for counties in Middle Georgia.
- Bibb 6,075 cases - 170 deaths
- Houston 3,158 - 82
- Baldwin 2,134- 57
- Laurens 1,657- 74
- Monroe 693- 51
Washington 675- 8
- Peach 672- 24
- Jones 559 - 8
- Bleckley 434 - 21
- Dodge 426 - 12
- Wilkinson 338- 18
- Pulaski 313 - 22
- Macon 234 - 10
- Twiggs 195 - 7
- Crawford 166 - 5
The state reported 1,081 new cases across the state and 34 new deaths Tuesday.
Navicent Health adjusts visitation policy
Navicent Health has modified its essential visitation policy as COVID-19 cases “decline in Georgia.” The changes are effective Tuesday. Here’s what’s changed, according to a press release from Navicent
- Essential visitation is limited to those who are visiting or accompanying the following patients:
- Minor patients under the age of 18 and patients in hospice or palliative care may have two essential visitors, one at a time at the bedside.
- Patients at end of life may have essential visitors. The number of essential visitors is at the discretion of the treating physician.
- Patients in labor and delivery and/or family birth centers may have two essential visitors, including a partner and birth coach.
- All other bedded patients, including those in critical care units, may have one essential visitor per day. A new essential visitor may be designated each day.
- Adult patients coming for emergency care may have one essential visitor. Minor patients may have two parents or guardians accompany them.
For more information on the hospital system’s essential visitor system, visit www.navicenthealth.org.
Carl Vinson VA Medical Clinic opens drive-thru clinic for veterans
The Carl Vinson VA Medical Clinic has opened a drive-thru clinic to provide seasonal flu shots to veterans, according to a press release.
The clinic is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday in front of the clinic’s main building by the flag pole. Three sports are reserved for the flu clinic: pull up, call the listed number and the clinic stuff will come to your car to administer the flu shot.
“The 2020-21 flu season is expected to coincide with the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak,” David Whitmer, Carl Vinson Medical Center director, said. “Please think of a flu shot as another layer of personal protective equipment. Measures such as wearing face coverings, washing hands frequently and practicing physical distancing also are effective against the spread of the flu, as well as COVID-19.”
The drive-thru clinic will operate outpatient clinics in Macon on Oct. 7 and Nov. 18, in Milledgeville on Oct. 19 and Nov. 16 and in Perry on Oct. 27 and Nov. 3
Pruitt Health reports no positive COVID-19 cases at Eastside facility
Last week, Pruitt Health - Eastside on Finney Circle in Macon was one of three Pruitt Health facilities to operate at a lower alert status because the centers had no positive or presumptive COVID-19 cases, allowing additional staff and limited vendors to re-enter the facility. Eastside could also start accepting new admissions.
“PruittHealth is closely monitoring its patients in all centers for symptoms of COVID-19 and continues to follow the latest guidelines from public health officials,” the release read. “The organization’s Emergency Operations Center is equipped with healthcare professionals for staff or patient questions related to COVID-19. Please call 855-742-5983 to be connected with a member of PruittHealth’s team.”
This story was originally published September 28, 2020 at 5:21 PM.
