As the number of cases of COVID-19 grows across the U.S., state and local officials are urging Georgians to be careful, but not to panic.
More than 160 people have been diagnosed with the virus in the U.S., most of them in Washington state and California. Two cases have been confirmed in Georgia, a father who had traveled to Italy and his son. Both are in home confinement with other family members and are being monitored by state Department of Public Health.
“We’re asking the public to remain calm,” Gov. Brian Kemp said Thursday during an appearance on WDUN’s “Morning Talk with Martha Zoller.” “They shouldn’t overreact, but they should be smart.”
Health care experts say the risk for infection is low. Most people can avoid the virus by avoiding people who are sick and by frequently washing their hands. But medical officials insist wearing a mask will not help prevent infection.
“You should wear a mask if you are sick, but it will not prevent the spread of Coronavirus,” Dr. Antoine Leflore, associate medical director of the emergency department of Northeast Georgia Medical Center’s Gainesville campus. “It will not protect you from Coronavirus. The only thing that will protect you is limiting contact with someone who is known to be infected or washing your hands for at least 20 seconds. Alternatively, you can use hand sanitizer.”
Leflore urged residents not to stockpile masks because they may be needed by health care professionals.
“We know there’s a lot of anxiety, lot of hysteria about this, but what we have seen is that people are looting masks,” he said. “We do not want that to happen because it will prevent health care facilities, our as well as other surrounding facilities, from getting supplies that we need to take care of ill patients.”
The virus was in more than 78 countries on Thursday, and outbreaks were growing fast in Italy, Iran, South Korea and the U.S. At least 11 people have died U.S., all but one of them in Washington state. Most of the Washington deaths were at a single nursing home near Seattle. The other death was in Sacramento. Many of the deaths in the U.S. have been people with other underlying health issues.
Cases have been confirmed in 17 states.
Leflore said the health system has created a task force of 36 physicians, and it has established guidelines similar to what the Department of Public Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are doing.
The health system has implemented a new patient visitation plan. Only two visitors are allowed at one time, visitors must be 12 years old or older. And people who exhibit any respiratory illness symptoms, such as a cough, fever or congestion, are asked to stay at home.
Leflore said the symptoms of COVID-19 will mimic the common cold. In fact, he said it is possible other strains of the Coronavirus have existed here in the past without being diagnosed.
“Most of the symptoms will be mild,” he said. “It will mimic a cold. It’s those cases that will be harder to detect and don’t necessarily need treatment either in urgent care or the emergency room.”
Kemp said people who being to fill bad should contact their doctor by phone to determine the best course of action.
“If they get sick don’t show up at the emergency room,” the governor said. “Don’t show up to your doctor’s waiting room. Call the doctor ahead, talking through your symptoms. Talk through travel habits. Talk though what you’ve been doing, and they can develop a plan to get you into the office the correct way so that you aren’t spreading that virus in the waiting room.”
Kemp urged Georgians to follow information released by his office, the Department of Public Health and the CDC.
“There’s a lot of misinformation out there on the internet and other places,” Kemp said. “People are saying don’t travel, don’t do this, don’t go to the basketball tournament this weekend. But we’re not there yet. Obviously if you are sick, if you’re kids are sick, don’t go to the basketball tournament. Just follow good practices.
For more details, visit Northeast Georgia Health System's Coronavirus information page
