Macon native Jason Aldean donates $200K to a hometown hospital to fight coronavirus

Macon native and country music star Jason Aldean has donated $200,000 to support healthcare needs to battle the coronaviurs pandemic.

The donation to Navicent Health, which operates the Medical Center, will be used to meet Navicent Health’s most pressing needs, according to a Navicent Health news release.

“We are grateful for Jason’s continued support and his commitment to his hometown,” Ellen Terrell, president of the Navicent Health Foundation, said in the release. “We hope this will result in the greatest good for central Georgia during this unprecedented time.”

Navicent Health plans to use the funds to buy COVID-19 testing equipment for the hospital’s laboratory, which will allow for in-house testing and for faster returns on test results, the release said.

Funds will also be used to purchase virtual technology for intensive care physicians in rural areas. This allows for Navicent Health intensivists to monitor patients remotely and consult with the care teams at individual hospitals, the release said.

Personal Protective Equipment such as N95 masks, gowns, gloves and goggles will be purchased for healthcare staff with the funds.

Additionally, the funds will used to purchase meals from locally-owned restaurants to feed healthcare workers, part of the hospital’s “Feed the Fight” campaign to support restaurants impacted by COVID-19 and encourage others to do the same.

While restaurants are closed for dine-in during the governor’s shelter-in-place order and have been since an earlier emergency declaration from Macon-Bibb Mayor Robert Reichert, many are able to offer drive-thru, delivery and curbside-pickup.