Has Grady County turned the corner on COVID-19?

The number of new positive cases of COVID-19 continues to decline in Grady County, although a new death from the disease was announced this week by state health officials.

A 72-year-old white male with no comorbidity was listed as passing away from the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. That brings the total number of Grady County residents to die from COVID-19 to 22.

In the last week, 21 new cases here were diagnosed, for a total of 778 since the pandemic began in March.

The Georgia Geospatial Information Office COVID-19 Dashboard indicates the new positive cases include a child between the ages of 0 and 4; two, ages 5-14; two, ages 15-24; three, ages 25-34; seven, ages 35-44; five, ages 45-54; six, ages 55-64; one, ages 75-84; and six, age unknown.

Interpretation of the data by the COVID-19 Health Equity Interactive Dashboard by Emory University is mostly positive for the first time in many weeks.

According to the online resource, “As of 9/28/2020, the daily average of new COVID-19 cases in Grady County numbered 12 case(s) per 100,000 residents. In comparison, the daily average in Georgia was 12 case(s) per 100,000 and in the United States was 13 case(s) per 100,000.

“As of 9/28/2020, the daily average of new COVID-19 deaths in Grady County numbered 0.6 death(s) per 100,000 residents. In comparison, the daily average in Georgia was 0.5 death(s) per 100,000 and in the United States was 0.2 death(s) per 100,000.”

Grady General Hospital had two COVID-positive patients as of Tuesday, while Archbold Memorial Hospital in Thomasville had 17, and Mitchell County Hospital had four patients, according to Ashley Griffin, spokeswoman for Archbold Medical Centers, which operates the hospitals.

Grady County schools continue to deal with COVID-19 including positive students and teachers and the required quarantining of those possibly exposed.

Cairo High School sent home to quarantine 29 students and one teacher Friday after a student tested positive. On Monday, C.H.S. administrators had two more students test positive, and had to send home 39 more students and one teacher to quarantine.

On last Thursday, when the school system posted its official weekly COVID-19 report, Cairo High already had 60 students and 14 teachers on quarantine, plus one positive student and one positive teacher.

“We are doing everything we can to keep our students, faculty and staff safe and health,” says Chris Lokey, principal. “We are strongly adhering to the C.D.C. and public health guidelines. Additionally, we are in constant communication with public health officials and the Grady County Health Department.”

The Thursday school system report also indicated that Southside Elementary School had 20 students and three teachers on quarantine and one positive student. But, on Tuesday, principal Kevin Strickland posted on social media, that the school no longer had any students reported positive or on official quarantine. Strickland stated that some students and one staff member are on voluntary self-isolation awaiting test results.

“Thank you for your continued support and diligence in keeping all stakeholders healthy,” he wrote.

As of Thursday, according to the school system report, Eastside Elementary School had four students and one teacher on quarantine; Northside Elementary School had four students and one teacher on quarantine; Shiver School had 27 students and two teachers on quarantine, and three teachers COVID-positive; Washington Middle School had 11 students and one teacher on quarantine; and Whigham School had one positive student and 21 students on quarantine.

County-wide results in neighboring counties continue to see a decline in new cases. Thomas, Mitchell and Decatur counties had 23, 32, and 35 new cases respectively in the last seven days. Thomas had four new deaths for a total of 63. Mitchell and Decatur did not have any new deaths from COVID-19.

Florida counties Leon and Gadsden had 472 and 89 new cases, and 14 and two new deaths, respectively, in the last week.