Cobb Reporter

Week of December 28, 2021

I hope everyone is having a happy and healthy holiday season. Yet the reality is we are not as healthy as we were a week ago.

COVID numbers are rising sharply, the fastest rise we have seen in this pandemic.

Data that shows 100 cases per 100,000 persons is considered a high transmission rate.  Last week when I signed the emergency order we were 3 times over that number. This week we are already 12 times over the high transmission rate mark. While the new omicron variant is a significant contributor, we still have the delta variant with us, as well as people continuing to travel and gather.

The rapid spread of COVID is overwhelming healthcare sites as large volumes of people are seeking testing and medical response. I am hearing of people waiting up to four hours and lines of vehicles stretching one-to-two miles. While our healthcare workers have gone above and beyond to keep us healthy, our healthcare infrastructure cannot reasonably accommodate masses of people seeking attention at the same time.

We need your help Cobb County.

Please help limit the challenging and growing impact of the COVID.

If you can avoid large gatherings at this time, please do.

And if you go in indoor spaces with large numbers of people, please mask up.

If you have not gotten fully vaccinated please do. Only 58% of our eligible in Cobb are.

You can find vaccination locations here: https://www.vaccines.gov 

If you haven’t gotten the booster, please do also. Less than 20% in Cobb County have received the booster.

If you are ill or feeling sick and haven’t received a test, please isolate yourself from others.

If you go to get a test or to seek medical attention, please expect long lines and wait times.

You can find testing locations here: https://dph.georgia.gov/covidtesting

And all, please be patient with the traffic around testing sites and medical facilities, and please let’s be patient with each other.  Our DOT engineers are working with the sites to come up with a way to better manage the lines.

Not one of us wants to be enduring the challenges of this pandemic into 2022. There is no joy and no power gained by putting exhaustive measures in place that disrupt comfort and people coming together, but there is overwhelming responsibility to do what I can to help keep people healthy and our healthcare system intact.

Still, the only way we can accomplish this is together.

Please let's all do our part.

Special video conversation with Dr. Janet Memark

Chairwoman Lisa Cupid met with the Director of Cobb and Douglas Public Health this morning to discuss the latest COVID variant ripping through the county.  Numbers are at record levels.  Chairwoman Cupid and Dr. Janet Memark discussed:

• The trouble many have had getting tested,
• Who really NEEDS to get tested,
• What the county can do moving forward, and;
• How you should celebrate New Year's Eve.

PLUS more.

WATCH the video at https://youtu.be/pOETi_CoUjE

My office is happy to help share information about programs, activities and events around the county and surrounding areas, but inclusion in the newsletter does not signify endorsement or guarantee the quality of programming included.

Chairwoman Lisa Cupid

100 Cherokee St

Marietta, GA 30090

770-528-3305

770-528-2606 fax

lisa.cupid@cobbcounty.org Copyright © 2021 Cobb County Government, All rights reserved.