The Parent Press: Georgia's Dangerous Experiment
There’s a lot of uncertainty about the current state of affairs in Georgia when it comes to COVID-19. Despite Governor Kemp’s assurances that the data supports his decision to allow close contact businesses to reopen and Georgia’s Shelter-in-Place to lapse, the ever changing data released by DPH does not support that.
As I mentioned last week, Governor Kemp has called upon Augusta University, home of the Medical College of Georgia, to lead the expansion of COVID-19 testing statewide. On a call with Dr. Keel of Augusta University (AU) this week, he explained that we still do not have enough testing reagents in the state to test asymptomatic carriers. One previous issue with testing was getting enough nasal swabs to properly conduct tests. AU has helped Georgia overcome this obstacle by providing swabs and having the dental school print the swabs with a 3D printer. AU staff and students continue to aid DPH Commissioner Dr. Toomey, the local health departments, General Carden, and the Georgia National Guard to provide additional drive-through testing sites. A new location opened last week in DeKalb at the Decatur Armory, 3736 Durham Park Road, Decatur, 30032 and another is opening on May 4 at House of Hope Atlanta, 4650 Flat Shoals Parkway, Decatur, GA 30034.
Using the AU ExpressCare app, individuals will be asked a series of questions by a physician and then will be given an appointment for the nearest drive-up testing site if testing is needed.
COVID-19 Cases in Georgia
As of Friday, May 1st, there are currently 27,187 cases in Georgia. Georgia DPH, the CDC, and the AJC are providing continuous updates on the number of cases and documenting cases by county. Out of the 27,187 cases currently, 2052 are from DeKalb County. DPH is now updating some of their COVID-19 figures hourly. They have added comorbidities and demographic data, including race, when it is known.
COVID-19 Cases in DeKalb County
COVID-19 Summary Report for DeKalb County (Public Health Districts 3-5)
Data Pulled: 4/29/2020 9:00AM
Total Cases: 1,932 (increase of 111 since 4/27/2020), Total Deaths: 44 (increase of 8 since 4/27/2020)
The map below shows the number of confirmed/presumptive COVID-19 infections in DeKalb County by zip code.
Racial Breakdown of DeKalb Cases
As shown below, of the 1,932 total cases of COVID-19 reported in DeKalb County (as of 4/29/2020) 801 cases, or 41% of total cases, have unknown race which continues to be the majority of cases. However, the two highest reported known races were black and white, comprising 38% and 13% of cases respectively.
Legislative Session May Resume June 11th or Earlier
According to an email sent yesterday to state senators from Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan’s office, the Lieutenant Governor is pushing for legislators and staff to return to the Capitol for the legislative session on May 13th. However, the Speaker of the House sent a letter to representatives saying as long as they are healthy and it’s safe to do so, staff would report back on May 18th with committees gearing up again on May 19th and legislative session resuming on June 11th. June 11 is the more likely, and more prudent, date.
Leadership has not yet provided specific safety protocols to legislators and staff. Doorkeepers, pages/page staff, and interns will not return to the Capitol. Special presentations will likely be suspended. However, at this time, they are saying the building will remain open to the public. My office is currently drafting a letter to the Lieutenant Governor regarding concerns and requesting a specific safety plan as well as a plan for conducting legislative business remotely if we see a resurgence in the fall/winter or even sooner.
Shelter in Place Order Now Lifted
When the clock struck midnight last night, Governor Kemp’s shelter in place order ended. However, in a new executive order and video released yesterday (4/30/20), Governor Kemp stated that the elderly and “medically fragile” are to continue sheltering in place through June 12th. During the same time frame, nursing homes and long-term care facilities are to continue taking aggressive measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at their locations. Our public health state of emergency has also been extended through June 12th. Nonetheless, open businesses are to continue following safety protocols released last week through May 13th. However, bars/nightclubs, public swimming pools, amusement parks, and live-performance venues are to remain closed through May 13th unless a new order extends the deadline. Large gatherings of more than 10 people not practicing six-feet of social distancing are still banned with a few exceptions. The Governor encouraged people to stay home when possible, practice social distancing, and wear a mask in public, except when doing outdoor exercise or other activities that already allow for adequate social distancing.
As I have said before, I disagree with how the Governor has reopened businesses in our state. I see firsthand how the relaxation of the orders has led to changes in behavior. Cars are filling the streets again. While quarantining and social distancing is extremely difficult, there is nothing in the data that suggests to me that we are in a safe place to resume normal life.
Although we have ramped up testing, we still do not allow for testing of asymptomatic individuals. According to the Harvard Global Health Institute, Georgia should be testing approximately 16,142 people per day. Last week when we reopened, we were only averaging 7,000 tests per day. On Monday, DPH set a goal to test 100,000 in the next 10 days. Hopefully, we will see more days like yesterday when we apparently performed 24,500 tests.
Concerns about DPH Data
As you may have read in the AJC or noticed yourself, the data on the DPH Daily Status Report is changing by the hour. We are still seeing updates, some increasing and some decreasing as far back as mid-February and early March. You can now see COVID-19 cases over time in Georgia, but you must hover over this data, and as mentioned, it is still being updated outside of the 14-day window. Our office is still seeking clarity from DPH so that the data is more transparent.
Contact Tracing
In order for us to have reopened more safely, Georgia needed to be better equipped when it comes to contact tracing. Some states have begun using applications that make it significantly easier to report contact you have had with individuals that have tested positive, or who you have come into contact with in the event that you test positive.
We need a systematic approach to contact tracing that utilizes both government healthcare personnel and other networks of private individuals whose sole responsibility it would be to focus on reaching out to those who have come into contact with a positive patient. Several other states, including states much larger than ours, have begun this process more seriously and even they haven’t opened up to the extent we have. In order to reopen safely, a true, concrete plan for contact tracing is a necessity.
For more information and to apply, visit:
https://www.governmentjobs.com/jobs?keyword=contact+tracer&location=georgia
Budget Cuts to State Agencies
The Georgia House of Representatives Appropriations Chair, Terry England, and newly appointed Senate Appropriations Chair, Blake Tillery, along with the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget asked all state agencies and school superintendents to generate new spending proposals for the fiscal year 2021. The memo stated that “at this time, we are asking every state agency to prepare for an FY 2021 budget that includes a 14% reduction from their FY 2020 original base.” No agency is spared, and these cuts will bring about significant pain. The legislature will be working on a new budget this month and will likely pass a new spending plan in June. While there are many potentially dangerous effects of these cuts, I am especially concerned about cuts to education and to Medicaid which the state has refused to expand for years (something that we see the need for now more than ever in the midst of this pandemic). I recently posted a video on Twitter about Medicaid and our need to expand it.
Georgia Primary Absentee Ballots
The Secretary of State’s office has received more than 1 million requests for absentee ballots for the upcoming June 9th primary election. A few issues have arisen, mainly regarding how ballots should be sealed in order to be received. Typically, voters get their absentee ballot contained in a large envelope within which sits both the actual ballot and a smaller envelope that voters place their ballots in for privacy purposes. In ordinary circumstances, voters simply put their ballot in the small envelope, place their small envelope in the large envelope, sign the large envelope, and send it off. This time, however, some voters have not received that small internal envelope and have instead gotten a white sleeve. Don’t worry! This is normal. There was a miscommunication at the Secretary of State’s office and they accidentally sent many ballots out with this mix-up. However, the solution is very simple: just place your ballot in the sleeve and place that sleeve in the large envelope as you normally would. Do not forget to sign the envelope, or your vote won’t be counted.
Remember: you are responsible for your own postage unless you place it in one of DeKalb’s drop boxes. Returning your ballot in the mail requires two 55-cent stamps. When you’ve filled it out and sealed the large ballot, you can send it to the DeKalb County Registration & Elections office, whose address is below. If you still haven’t received your ballot request form, you can order one online here. If you’ve been having ANY issues with casting your vote, I encourage you to contact the email below, or call the Democratic Party of Georgia’s voter hotline number: 1-888-730-5816.
Email: voterreg@dekalbcounty.ga.gov
Fax: 404-298-4038
Mail: DeKalb County Registration & Elections
4380 Memorial Drive, Suite 300
Decatur, GA 30032
Stay safe, stay well, stay home.