FREE COVID-19 TESTING AVAILABLE IN NORTH GEORGIA. LEARN MORE HERE.

The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) continues to closely monitor an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel (new) coronavirus (COVID-19) first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China in December 2019, as well as its variants, and is regularly coordinating with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Cases have been identified in international locations, the United States and Georgia.

This is still a rapidly evolving situation and information is subject to change, so here is where you can conveniently link to all updated information from both Georgia DPH and the CDC.

There have been hundreds of thousands of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Georgia and thousands of related deaths. However, there have also been many thousands of Georgians now vaccinated against COVID-19, including over 100,000 vaccinations distributed by public health in the North Georgia Health District. Click here to the Georgia DPH COVID-19 Daily Status Report for the latest data per county. 

Eligible for COVID-19 Vaccine and live or work in North Georgia?

Learn More... Click HERE.

ALERT: Following the guidance of the FDA and CDC, Georgia is pausing ALL J&J vaccinations until further notice. Click HERE for more information.

 Updates about COVID-19 Vaccine in Georgia for the general public, providers and healthcare professionals are on the Georgia Department of Public Health website. Click below:

CHEROKEE - FANNIN - GILMER 

MURRAY - PICKENS - WHITFIELD 

Updated COVID-19 Quarantine Guidance 

The CDC recently updated the quarantine guidance for close contacts  - click here to access the most current DPH quarantine guidelines based on these updates and also reference the below graphic on quarantine details.

General Information You Need to Know

• About COVID-19
• COVID-19 Situation Update from the CDC
• How To Protect Yourself
• What to Do if You're Sick
• Preventing COVID-19 Spread in Communities                                       
• Information about Large Public Gatherings
• Home Isolation and Disease Prevention in Household
• Testing Information

Resources for Specific Groups

• DPH Guidance for Specific Groups
• Resources for Households
• Resources for K-12 Schools & Childcare
• Resources for Colleges & Higher Education
• Resources for Travelers
• Resources for Higher Risk Groups, Pregnant Women, and the Homeless
• Resources for Businesses & Employers
• Resources for Community & Faith Groups
• Resources for Events & Mass Gatherings
• Resources for First Responders
• Guidance for EMS and 911 PSAPs
• Resources for Healthcare Professionals
• Guidance for Long-Term Care Facilities and Nursing Homes

 Check out the PDF version of a children’s book that helps children understand our COVID-19 pandemic world when returning to school. Below is the book titled “I Am Going Back To School”, written by Aileen Mui and Vivian Wong - just click on the book below provided in English and Spanish and share with family, friends and associates who have children going back to school.

Additional COVID-19 Resources from Georgia DPH and the CDC

 

 

COVID-19 General Information Factsheet (1.2 MB)

COVID-19 Guidance for Restaurants (64.29 KB)

COVID-19 Handwashing Poster(1.17 MB)

COVID-19 Information Powerpoint (17.58 MB)

COVID-19 in Georgia and Beyond Teleconference

DPH Contact Guidance (195.17 KB)

DPH Isolation Guidance (162.1 KB)

Guidance for Georgia Clinicians (1.02 MB)

 CMS Nursing Home Guidance QSO-20-14

 

Covid-19 en Espanol:

Cómo protegerse y proteger a los demás - Talking Points.pdf

Face Mask in Spanish.pdf

How to make Cloth Face Coverings - in Spanish

Stop Germs - Spanish

Spanish CDC_10 things you can do to manage your COVID symptoms at home

Protect Against COVID-19 Card - Sp.pdf

COVID-19: Protect Yourself and Your Family - Video in Spanish 
How to Make a Cloth Face Covering to Prevent COVID-19 - Video in Spanish

 

State and Federal Response Websites:

CDC

Georgia Department of Public Health

Take Advantage of the Opportunity to Keep Them Safe

North Georgia – Vaccinate your preteen today to protect them and their healthy future.

In an effort to keep every adult and child safe, all six counties in the North Georgia Health District are joining the Georgia Department of Public Health in recognizing March 9-13, 2020 as Georgia Preteen Vaccine Awareness Week. This week serves as a reminder for parents to talk with their preteens and teens about getting immunized against vaccine-preventable diseases.

Vaccines for preteens are available at the public health departments in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield counties.

“Every parent wants to protect their child and see them live a healthy life, yet many times parents don’t see vaccination as an urgent need,” said Sheila Lovett, Immunization Program director for the Georgia Department of Public Health. “Vaccinating your child is the single best way to protect them from preventable diseases, so we urge parents to prioritize vaccinations.”

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health Rule (511-2-2), all students born on or after January 1, 2002, entering or transferring into seventh grade and any “new entrant” into eighth - 12^th grades in Georgia need proof of receiving one dose of adolescent pertussis (whooping cough) booster vaccination (called “Tdap”) AND one dose of adolescent meningococcal conjugate vaccination (MenACWY). Effective July 1, 2020, children sixteen years of age and older who are attending eleventh grade must receive a booster dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine, unless their initial dose was administered on or after their sixteenth birthday. This law affects all public and private schools including, but not limited to, charter schools, community schools, juvenile court schools and other alternative school settings (excluding homeschool).

Vaccines are the best defense we have against serious, preventable and sometimes deadly contagious diseases. They help avoid expensive therapies and hospitalization needed to treat infectious diseases like influenza and meningitis. Immunizations also reduce absences both at school and after school activities and decrease the spread of illness at home, school and the community.

CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices currently routinely recommends the following vaccines for preteens and teens:

• • Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap)
  • Influenza (flu)
  • Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
  • Meningococcal Disease (MenACWY)

Georgia Preteen Vaccine Awareness Week is an opportunity to raise awareness through schools, health care providers and the media regarding preteen immunizations, particularly Georgia’s pertussis and meningococcal requirements for incoming seventh-grade students. Speak with your physician today to find out if your preteen is up-to-date.

For more information, click here.

 NORTH GEORGIA HEALTH DISTRICT COVID-19 UPDATE

GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH COVID-19 UPDATE

The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is closely monitoring an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel (new) coronavirus (COVID-19) first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China in December 2019, and regularly coordinating with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The outbreak continues to grow in China and cases have been identified in a growing number of other international locations, including the United States.

There is now community (person to person) spread in other countries outside of China. There are ongoing investigations to learn more about the virus, how it is transmitted, and how to prevent the spread of disease.

Symptoms of COVID-19 may resemble the common cold or seasonal flu, which is a far greater risk this time of year. The best way to prevent infection with any respiratory virus is to use the same preventative strategies used during a normal cold and flu season: get a flu shot, wash hands regularly, cover coughs and sneezes, and stay home when experiencing symptoms of illness until they resolve. It is important to remember that viruses cannot target people from specific populations, ethnicities or racial backgrounds and this type of stigma should be avoided. For more about stigma related to COVID-19 and how to prevent it, please see: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/related-stigma.html.

Persons who have traveled from affected countries/areas in the past 14 days and have a fever, cough, or difficulty breathing should seek medical care, and should contact their healthcare provider and inform them of their travel history before going in.

DPH  is advising healthcare providers statewide to be alert for patients who have traveled from affected countries/areas and present with a fever and symptoms of respiratory illness. The Department disseminated a detailed medical advisory to healthcare providers about COVID-19 reporting, testing, specimen collection and healthcare infection control recommendations for potential COVID-19 cases.

Healthcare providers who suspect COVID-19 infection in a patient should report them immediately to DPH by calling 1-866-PUB-HLTH (1-866-782-4584) and ask for a Medical Epidemiologist.

 CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL & PREVENTION (CDC) COVID-19 UPDATE

North Georgia – Along with COVID-19, Hepatitis A is also a serious illness caused by a virus and it continues to spread in this area. The good news is there is a vaccine for hepatitis A and it is free at health departments in the North Georgia Health District, especially for people who are at high risk for hepatitis A infection.

Drug users are among those at high risk for hepatitis A infection, and family members and friends who do not use drugs but are in close contact to drug users need a vaccination, as well.

Health departments in the North Georgia Health District that offer free hepatitis A vaccine are in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield counties. To contact these health departments, click directly on the name of your county above or on the LOCATIONS tab.

The North Georgia Health District started to see an increase in hepatitis A cases in October 2018 so began taking proactive steps to protect those at high risk and prevent the spread of the disease. A vaccination campaign was launched among all groups at greatest risk for becoming infected with hepatitis A, which, along with drug users and their close contacts, include persons incarcerated in jails, homeless persons and men who have sex with men. Food service workers are also urged to get vaccinated.

Currently, the North Georgia Health District has identified 71 cases of hepatitis A, however, no deaths. Most cases in the district continue to be among the homeless and illicit drug use populations.

Hepatitis A is a highly contagious liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus. It can range in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a severe illness lasting several months. Hepatitis A virus is a vaccine preventable disease. Even one dose of the vaccine can prevent the spread of the disease and an outbreak.

Besides a vigorous vaccination campaign, the North Georgia Health District is taking other proactive steps to prevent the spread of hepatitis A, such as:

• 1. Sending information to local healthcare providers on steps they should take to vaccinate individuals at high risk, closely monitor their patient population and report any confirmed or suspected hepatitis A infections to public health. 
  2. Reminding the public we can all protect ourselves from hepatitis A virus by: 
• • • Getting vaccinated through a health care provider.
    • Washing hands with soap and water before eating, drinking or handling food.
    • Buying food or drinks from food trucks or carts with permits from the health department.

For more information about hepatitis A and how to prevent the spread of the hepatitis A virus, click here on our website to Hepatitis A: What North Georgians Should Know.

 Buckle Up Right, Every Trip, Every Time

North Georgia – All six county health departments in the North Georgia Health District were awarded the 2020 Car Seat Mini-Grant by the Georgia Department of Public Health, Injury Prevention Program.

Through the Mini-Grant, the county health departments and collaborating partners work together to provide car seats and education to financially eligible families in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield counties.

This program is funded by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety to help ensure Georgia’s children are safe while riding in motor vehicles.

And it works! Since 2007, the education, car seats and booster seats provided through the Mini-Grant prevented serious injury or death and saved over 300 Georgia children who were involved in crashes.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car seats reduce fatal injuries by 71 percent among infants and by 54 percent among children ages 1 to 4 years in passenger cars. Car seats offer the best protection for children in the event of a crash, and they are most effective when installed and used correctly. However, nearly three out of every four car seats are not used properly, placing children at unnecessary risk.

The Car Seat Mini-Grant provides grant recipients the training and resources needed to help protect children from serious injuries or death in motor vehicle crashes.

In Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield counties, health departments and collaborating partners, such as law enforcement, EMA, EMS, fire departments and other organizations, educate parents and caregivers on how to properly install and use car seats, offer car seat inspections and provide car seats and booster seats to financially eligible families.

Through the Car Seat Mini-Grant, agencies supporting more than 120 counties are working to keep Georgia’s children safe. These programs help families get their children buckled up right, every trip, every time.

For more information about the car seat program at county health departments in North Georgia or to contact the health departments, click the LOCATIONS tab near the top of this page.

For information regarding other Georgia counties involved in the program, please contact the Georgia Department of Public Health’s Child Occupant Safety Project via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by calling 404-463-1487.

UPDATE: 2/26/2020

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

February 26, 2020

DPH Preparations for Potential Spread of COVID-19

ATLANTA – The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is working closely with the CDC, and state partners to prepare for a potential outbreak of COVID-19 in the U.S., including Georgia. The goal is to quickly identify cases of COVID-19 and take the appropriate public health action to reduce its spread and protect the general public. It is important to note that at this time, the overall risk of COVID-19 to the general public remains low.

“We urge Georgians to prepare for hurricanes or flooding or take measures to prevent flu, so preparing for an outbreak of COVID-19 is no different,” said Kathleen E. Toomey, M.D., M.P.H., DPH commissioner. “DPH is working to make sure our health systems, first responders and county health departments have the resources they need to respond to a COVID-19 outbreak.”

DPH already has a detailed pandemic flu plan that was developed in partnership with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, the Georgia Department of Education and other state agencies, and will be adapted for a COVID-19 outbreak in the state. DPH has responded to other serious disease outbreaks, including Ebola and Zika virus and each instance has provided new insight and guidance and highlighted the need to be as prepared as we can be.

DPH Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) is providing CDC information and guidance about COVID-19 to all health care and hospital facilities throughout Georgia, and holding weekly calls with the entire public health and hospital/health care community to update information and answer questions.

DPH epidemiologists are on-call 24/7 to help health care providers evaluate individuals presenting with symptoms of COVID-19 to ensure that possible cases are managed safely, support laboratory testing and implement recommendations from the CDC. In the event of COVID-19 in Georgia, epidemiologists would also be monitoring outbreaks and recommending control strategies, including guidance regarding testing and isolation.

Should it become necessary, DPH may recommend appropriate community mitigation measures for affected communities, such as temporary closure of child care facilities and schools/colleges and universities, school and workplace social distancing measures, and postponement or cancellation of mass gatherings. Additionally, businesses should consider ways to implement strategies to reduce the impact of a potential COVID-19 outbreak on their workforce, including teleworking and cross-training employees on essential job functions.

The same measures that are urged to prevent the spread of any respiratory virus are increasingly important for all Georgians:

• • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cough or sneeze into your elbow or use a tissue to cover it, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

The best prevention against the flu is vaccination. Flu is still widespread and active in Georgia - it’s not too late to get a flu shot.

Passenger screening at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport is ongoing. This is to identify people coming from China who may have been exposed to and are at risk of developing COVID-19, and to provide appropriate assessment and monitoring to protect the general public.

COVID-19 is rapidly evolving and guidance is subject to change. The preparations currently underway in Georgia are based on the best scientific information we have from the CDC. DPH will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation, and work with state partners and health care communities to incorporate the most up to date guidance in our planning and preparation efforts.

DPH will continue to update Georgians through our website https://dph.georgia.gov/novelcoronavirus, our Facebook page and our Twitter account. It is important to remember that the most accurate and timely information regarding this outbreak is available through DPH or the CDC’s website https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

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UPDATE: 2/11/2020

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Feb.11, 2020

Travelers Returning to Georgia from China Self-Monitoring for

Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Symptoms

ATLANTA – Under the supervision of the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), about 200 individuals who have recently returned from China are self-monitoring for symptoms of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus). These travelers arrived in the U.S. from mainland China outside Hubei Province with no known high-risk exposure. These individuals are asymptomatic (no symptoms) and are self-isolating at home.

DPH receives a list every day from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with the names of Georgia travelers coming from China. DPH epidemiologists contact the individuals by phone to establish a plan for self-monitoring and provide instructions on how to contact DPH before seeking health care if they develop fever, cough or shortness of breath.

There are no Georgia travelers who have returned from Wuhan or Hubei Province requiring quarantine.

To slow the potential spread of COVID-19 to the United States, on January 31, President Trump issued a federal proclamation that included a travel ban for non-U.S. citizens entering the country from China and funneling flights from China to one of 11 airports in the U.S., including Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International Airport.

In addition, the proclamation requires mandatory 14-day quarantine for returning travelers who have been in the Hubei Province (high risk) and 14 days of supervised self-monitoring for returning travelers from anywhere else in China (medium risk).

The CDC says the overall risk of coronavirus to the general public is low, but the best way to prevent infection of any respiratory virus is:

• • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cough or sneeze into your elbow or use a tissue to cover it, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Flu is still widespread and active in Georgia. The best prevention against the flu is vaccination – it’s not too late to get a flu shot.

For more information about coronavirus, log on to https://dph.georgia.gov/novelcoronavirus

or https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html. Guidance for travelers can be found at https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/watch/novel-coronavirus-china.

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_________________________________________________________

UPDATE: 1/27/2020

NEWS ADVISORY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                                 

Jan. 27, 2020                                                                                             

DPH Release of Coronavirus Information

ATLANTA – The Georgia Department of Public Health, in consultation with the CDC, is evaluating patient information received from healthcare providers about potential cases of coronavirus. To date, DPH has not confirmed any cases of coronavirus in Georgia, however the situation could change as additional patients are evaluated.

DPH will not provide information about the number of patients being tested for coronavirus, but will release limited information about confirmed cases of coronavirus in Georgia. This is a fluid situation where numbers will change and may not reflect the level of risk to the general public, which at this time remains low.

Advice to the general public is the same as every cold and flu season. Wash your hands regularly, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, and stay away from people who are sick. If you’ve traveled from Wuhan City, China into the U.S. and you have symptoms of coronavirus (runny nose, headache, cough, sore throat, fever, a general feeling of being unwell), seek advice from your health care provider. If you don’t have a health care provider, contact your local health department.

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_________________________________________________________

UPDATE: 1/24/2020

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                                 

Jan. 24, 2020                                                                                     

DPH Working to Identify and Prevent Spread of Coronavirus in Georgia

ATLANTA – The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is closely monitoring the outbreak of  2019-nCoV (coronavirus) occurring in China and regularly coordinating with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. DPH has not confirmed any novel (new) coronavirus cases to date, however the situation could change.

DPH is advising healthcare providers statewide to be alert for patients who have traveled from Wuhan, China and present with fever and respiratory symptoms. The Department sent out a detailed medical advisory to healthcare providers on reporting, testing, specimen collection and healthcare infection control recommendations for potential coronavirus cases. Healthcare providers who suspect 2019-nCoV infection in a patient should report them immediately to DPH by calling 1-866-PUB-HLTH (1-866-782-4584).

To detect possible cases of coronavirus infection early and prevent further spread, the United States began actively screening incoming travelers from Wuhan at five select airports, including Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta. DPH has protocols for transport, evaluation and testing of potential coronavirus patients, and will work with the airport quarantine station to facilitate and coordinate referrals.

This outbreak of coronavirus began in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and continues to spread. The outbreak now includes hundreds of confirmed infections and a growing number of deaths in several countries. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, some causing respiratory illness in people and others that circulate among animals, including camels, cats and bats. The beginning of this outbreak has been linked to a large seafood and animal market in Wuhan. A growing number of patients reportedly have not had exposure to the animal markets and many healthcare workers have become infected, indicating person to person spread is occurring.

Because this is a novel coronavirus, we do not know everything about it yet. Based on patients with confirmed coronavirus, symptoms include fever and signs of lower respiratory illness (e.g., cough, shortness of breath); case-patients also develop pneumonia. The CDC says symptoms may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 after exposure. There is currently no specific antiviral treatment for 2019-nCoV infection or vaccine to prevent coronavirus infection.

Currently there are two confirmed cases of coronavirus in the United States (Illinois and Washington) and more cases are expected. The CDC says the overall risk of coronavirus to the general public is low, but the best way to prevent infection of any respiratory virus is:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow or use a tissue to cover it, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

For more information about coronavirus, log on to https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html. Guidance for travelers can be found at https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/watch/novel-coronavirus-china.

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See Attached Press Release in PDF

_________________________________________________________

About the Georgia Department of Public Health

The Georgia Department of Public Health is the lead agency in preventing disease, injury and disability; promoting health and well-being; and preparing for and responding to disasters from a health perspective. For more information about DPH, visit www.dph.ga.gov.

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month, and the North Georgia Health District, including your county health department in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens or Whitfield County, wants you to know that there’s a lot you can do to prevent cervical cancer. Each year, more than 11,000 women in the United States get cervical cancer.

HPV (human papillomavirus) is a very common infection that spreads through sexual activity, and it causes almost all cases of cervical cancer. About 79 million Americans currently have HPV, but many people with HPV don’t know they are infected.

The good news?

• • The HPV vaccine (shot) can prevent HPV.
  • Cervical cancer can often be prevented with regular screening tests and follow-up care.

In honor of National Cervical Health Awareness Month, the North Georgia Health District encourages:

• • Women to start getting regular cervical cancer screenings at age 21
  • Parents to make sure pre-teens get the HPV vaccine at age 11 or 12

Teens and young adults also need to get the HPV vaccine if they didn’t get it as pre-teens. Women up to age 26 and men up to age 21 can still get the vaccine.

Thanks to the health care reform law, you and your family members may be able to get these services at no cost to you. Check with your insurance company to learn more.

Taking small steps can help keep you safe and healthy. Click above on the name of your county health department and connect today to arrange for your cervical cancer screening and/or to get the HPC vaccine for your pre-teen!

For more information about Cervical Cancer Screening from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), please go to   What Should I Know About Screening?