The Parent Press: Important Coronavirus Updates, April 11
The fight against COVID-19 is driving most of us a little batty. Being stuck at home and trying to manage my active children with their schedules much more wide-open than several weeks ago is not something I would choose. But it's not time to let up.
Unfortunately, we know that things will get worse before they get better, and Georgia’s surge is expected to come the week of April 20th. Despite the toll this pandemic may be having on your mental/emotional health, I think there are still reasons to find hope. Our country has always been a resilient one, and our DeKalb community continues to encourage me with its kindness and generosity. We must find ways to support and lift one another up during these trying times. I am unbelievably grateful for the health care workers and others on the front lines, and I am thankful for the school systems and teachers working to provide food and resources to those students who may not have everything they need right now.
As you know, state parks and beaches have been re-opened despite concerns from some legislators and local officials. The AJC wrote about county officials who sent a letter to Governor Kemp this week. It would be my preference to allow localities to put measures more stringent than the Governor's Executive Order into place.
I hope that District 42 residents continue to follow the shelter in place order by staying home unless you are part of the state’s “critical infrastructure” or engaging in an essential activity like grocery shopping or outdoor exercise while still practicing “social distancing.” I know I am probably preaching to the choir here, but how we respond to this crisis will be a lesson for future generations. Even if the state and federal response have been lacking, especially in February and early March, we can still be proud of our response at the community level. Thank you for all you’re doing to protect Georgians.
COVID-19 Cases in Georgia
As of Friday, April 10th, there are currently 11, 859 cases in Georgia and 425 deaths. Georgia DPH, the CDC, and the AJC are providing continuous updates on the number of cases and documenting cases by county. Out of the 11,859 cases currently, 826 are from DeKalb County. DPH is updating their COVID-19 figures twice daily, at noon and 7 p.m. They have started adding demographic data, including race, when it is known. However, as you will see further down in today’s newsletter, other legislators and I have called out racial disparities and called for more information.
Governor Kemp’s “Emergency Powers” & Statewide Stay at Home Order Extended
This week Governor Kemp, Speaker Ralston, and Lieutenant Governor Duncan agreed to extend the Governor’s “emergency powers” to May 13th without having the legislature meet and approve this measure.
As you know, Kemp announced his statewide stay-at-home order last week. This order went into effect last Friday and has now been extended through April 30th for now. The Governor’s stay at home order overrides orders put in place by local officials for counties and cities. The Governor also announced that short-term vacation rentals in the state are to be suspended.
Georgians are to “shelter in place” unless engaging in “essential services” like obtaining food and medical supplies, working in “critical infrastructure,” continuing “minimum basic operations” for non-critical infrastructure, or doing “necessary travel” for any of the previously mentioned activities. Babysitting/nannying and janitorial services are considered part of the state’s “critical infrastructure.” Remember, you are permitted to exercise outdoors as long as you and others are practicing “social distancing.” The Governor’s Office says it has empowered local police departments to enforce the “shelter in place” order, and they may at first give a warning and then issue a misdemeanor to people who do not comply with the order. Nevertheless, you do not have to have a letter from your employer to state that you are part of the “critical infrastructure.”
I know this is holy week for Jewish and Christian communities, but I urge you to celebrate and connect virtually in order to protect yourself and others. The Governor also gave guidance on this today.
Please stay at home as much as possible and make trips for “essential services” as few as possible. I have seen grocery stores and store workers encouraging people to come individually rather than bringing multiple family members if at all possible. Read more about the Governor’s order, guidance, and FAQ’s here. Additionally, the CDC recommends that people wear face masks when you have to be around others in public.
As a reminder, the University System of Georgia will offer online classes for May and the summer semester. Additionally, K-12 public schools are closed for the rest of the school year, and we are still awaiting more details and guidance from the Governor’s Office and Superintendent Richard Woods. I am in the process of drafting a letter to Superintendent Woods about concerns to appropriately address learning loss so that we can avoid an educational crisis after the public health one.
Coronavirus Task Force Updates
Governor’s Office:
As of April 8 at 9:30 PM, the peak resource date as forecasted by the University of Washington IHME Model is April 20th where the model shows that the state will have a deficit of 282 ICU beds. The state has identified hundreds of additional ICU beds through hospital surge capacity that will be coming before the peak date of April 20th. *Note: That model appears to have been updated to reflect April 26th as the peak in Georgia.There are two recent developments for rapid point of care testing across the country: Cepheid and Abbott.
Cepheid machines are currently deployed in hospitals across the state who have partnerships with Cepheid, including Phoebe Putney, and those tests are being conducted currently.
Abbott recently received FDA emergency use authorization for a rapid point of care test that can deliver results in 5-13 minutes depending on the result. The State will be the recipient of at least 15 Abbott Machines and kits from FEMA, and hospitals who are Abbott partners will have access to these machines. Deployment of these machines on the state level is expected imminently. Additionally, the CVS mobile testing site at Georgia Tech is currently processing tests on the Abbott platform.
DPH:
As mentioned above, the state is partnering with CVS and Georgia Tech. We can conduct up to 1,000 tests per day, and it takes about 30 minutes. Patients must pre-register, and priority is still given for healthcare workers.
The DPH twice daily push on its website now includes demographic information, but as discussed during the press conference Wednesday, the data inputs are limited. More than 55% of cases do not have a race assigned to them.
DPH also released a list of 47 long-term care facilities with COVID-19 outbreaks. This list will be updated weekly on Fridays.
Based on CDC guidance, there are various levels of the pandemic based on the transmission of the virus in the community (none to minimal, minimal to moderate, and substantial). Georgia has been identified by the CDC as having substantial community transmission. Each level of transmission calls for different responses with the most intensive measures being taken when the state is facing substantial (sometimes referred to as “widespread”) community transmission. As the levels of community transmission taper, the CDC recommended actions will also taper. The CDC recommendations are available at the following link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/community-mitigation-strategy.pdf.
Currently during mitigation in Georgia, we are increasing testing so that we can monitor when we hit our peak. As we come down the curve from there, we will test for isolation, contact tracing, and quarantine again to determine how much to loosen mitigation measures.
The President has discussed the possibility of “opening up” parts of the economy across the country who have hit their peak or have very few cases, but viruses know no borders and it only takes one asymptomatic carrier in a crowd or a large event to create a hot-spot. To declare a pandemic “complete” in an area, WHO guidance is typically two consecutive incubation periods of no new cases (which is a lengthy time period).
In terms of opening businesses back up, DPH will have to discuss with the Governor and the rest of the task force about what makes the most sense. Georgia has not yet hit our projected peak for the first wave and will need to be strategic in any decrease of the mitigations taken to date.
The Department of Corrections is putting out information regularly on confirmed cases in their facilities, but there is some lag time with DPH data.
GEMA:
Georgia has more PPE than previous weeks, but it is still being prioritized and shipped based on greatest needs. Priority is still acute care, including hospitals, long-term care facilities with positive cases, and local first responders.
Here is what has been shipped out:
KN/N 95 Masks 870,752
Surgical Masks 1,237,278
Face Shields 201,176
Gloves 3,044,030
Ventilators 86
National Guard:The Georgia National Guard currently has just over 2,000 Soldiers, Airmen, and State Defense Force personnel engaged in the COVID-19 Response. They are currently working on 30 mission assignments from Director Bryson and his team at GEMA. Their current mission profiles include:
Infection Control Teams: They developed and deployed the first team to a nursing home in South Georgia on Tuesday, March 31st. They currently have 36 teams and 913 personnel assigned where there is the most negative impact, among the elderly and infirm, many of whom reside in one of Georgia’s 363 nursing homes. They have provided infection control support to 85 Nursing Homes and are in process with 31 more at this time.
Medical Support Teams: They developed and deployed the first team to Grady Memorial Hospital on March 25th. Yesterday 17 teams and 200 personnel deployed to 17 hospitals. They are providing everything from Doctors,PA’s, and Nurses for direct medical care to administrative support.
Hospital Entry Control Teams: This is a new mission profile developed this week. There are 72 service members deployed to 5 hospitals to conduct patient arrival screening. The objective is to enable hospitals to put nurses and other professionals caregivers back into direct patient care.
Food Bank Support: The National Guard is supporting 9 Food Banks from Valdosta to Dalton. They have 180 service members assigned to this mission. Department of Public Health Support Activities include drivers and couriers at 12 of their 18 Regional Health Offices across the state and logistics support to their distribution warehouse.
Racial Disparities & Demographics
Yesterday, I signed a letter with other state legislators to Governor Kemp and Dr. Toomey to ask the Georgia Department of Public Health to provide more data in their reports. It appears from limited data available that black Georgians are bearing the brunt of this disease. While we have the data for COVID-19 Confirmed Cases by Race when known (a very recent development), we need more information. Specifically, we asked for data that shows the “number of positive and negative COVID-19 cases by zip code residency, number of individuals being tested for COVID-19 broken down by race, number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 by race, number of COVID-19 related inpatient hospitalizations by race, and number of COVID-19 deaths by race.” This information is crucial and without it, we are lacking the resources to appropriately make decisions in response to COVID-19 and slow the spread of it. In the letter, we mention that “communities of color are already showing a greater number of confirmed cases, and we don’t even know if they are receiving a greater number of tests.” This unknown is not acceptable and we must know and do more in order to fully comprehend the severity and response in our state. Awareness is the first step in order to remedy this disparity.
If you feel this is as important as I do, I encourage you to contact Governor Kemp’s office by calling 404-656-1776 to ask DPH to include more demographic data in their reports.
Updates from Atlanta Mayor & City Council
BeltLine: Before 10 AM, the BeltLine is reserved for older adults and those with compromised health; from 10 AM-12 PM is for daily exercise with safe distancing (please limit it to people who lack other options for exercise), and after 2 PM is the priority time for transit-only needs for essential trips.
Crowds/Parks: Fortunately, crowds are voluntarily dispersing when officers approach, and people are calling to make law enforcement aware where people are congregating where they should not be. Basketball goals are being taken down in parks, including Grant Park, East Lake Park, Bessie Branham, and the volleyball net at Piedmont Park.In the City of Atlanta, residents can call 311 to report inappropriate gathering of people.
Airport: Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport is being cleaned several times each night.
Crime report: Violent crime and property crime are both down. Commercial burglaries at businesses are increasing, including theft at construction sites.
Atlanta Small Business Program: There have been 425 applicants, 13 loans approved, and 50 in final stages of review. The city should be able to serve 60. Applications are getting suspended right now until all funds are expended and will work to find additional funding sources and philanthropy to assist with small business loans. There are funding sources available from SBA as well.
Housing and Evictions: Mayor has called on Fulton and DeKalb magistrate courts to limit evictions. Statewide Judicial emergency has been extended, which will help with that. The CARES Act passed in Congress makes it unlawful to evict renters living in single-family and multi-family properties financed by federally-backed mortgages (for example by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and HUD loans) and renters living in federally assisted housing.
Hospitals: Right now ICU capacity is holding its own, but hospitals in the city are preparing for the potential surge the week of April 20th. Piedmont Hospital has expanded beds by 400.
Georgia Primary Election Postponed Again
Georgia’s primary election will now be postponed for a second time, moving from May 19 to June 9. We expect that this will be the last time the date of the primary moves. DeKalb County has taken upon itself to mail absentee ballot forms to all registered voters rather than simply “active ones,” making it the only county so far to take this extra step.
A few reminders: Don’t forget to sign and date your absentee ballot request form! Failing to do so means your form likely will not be processed properly, so this is a very important component to filling out the form. You are also responsible for providing your own stamp to put on the envelope as you send it in the mail. Send your request form to 4380 Memorial Drive, Suite 300, Decatur, GA 30322. However, if you do not have a stamp, you can take a photo or scan it and email it to voterreg@dekalbcountyga.gov. You can also fax it to the county election office at 404-298-4038. Once you have submitted these forms, please be sure to track your ballot on the Secretary of State's website.
I don’t need to remind you of past "issues" with Georgia's election process, so keep a close eye on it to make sure there aren’t any issues. You will receive your actual ballot a few weeks later in the mail. Remember, the absentee ballot request form is not your actual ballot; it is simply how the state will know which party’s ballot you would like to receive since Georgia voters are not registered with specific parties ahead of time. Return your ballot as soon as possible. The ballot must be received by June 9, Election Day.
Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) & Unemployment Insurance for 1099 Workers
According to the Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL), 1099 workers, including independent contractors and workers in the gig economy, will receive guidance and be eligible to apply for Pandemic Employment Assistance (PUA) through GDOL on Monday, April, 13th.
If you have previously filed a claim for unemployment insurance, you may follow up via customer.service@gdol.ga.gov or through my office at elena@elenaparent.com or 404-656-5109.
Small Business Administration (SBA) Programs
As a result of the CARES Act, there are a few funding options, including the Paycheck Protection Program, EIDL Loan Advance, SBA Express Bridge Loans, and SBA Debt Relief. You can learn more about your options here.
Although SBA is a federal program, this week we obtained a local contact to help with constituents if they are having trouble directly connecting with SBA or a member of Congress. Feel free to contact our office, and we will do our best to help.
Reminder: Tax Filing Deadline Extended
The Georgia Department of Revenue has extended the 2019 tax filing deadline until July 15 in conjunction with the federal government. Vehicle registrations that expire between March 16, 2020 and May 14, 2020 are being extended through May 15, 2020.
Georgia DPH Hotline & Other Health Resources
GA DPH Hotline Number: 844-442-2681 (Monday-Friday 8:00 AM- 5:00 PM EST)
The DeKalb County Board of Health COVID-19 Call Center: 404-294-3700 (and selecting Option 1), open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday
Emory COVID-19 Checker: https://c19check.com/start.
Apple App regarding COVID-19 symptoms and guidance
More resources here
Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities can be accessed at https://dbhdd.georgia.gov, and the Georgia Crisis & Access Line is 800-715-4225 and is available 24/7.
Educational Resources
Live News Updates
Stay safe, stay well, stay home.