Uptick in positive cases and quarantines in local schools

The Grady County School System has seen an increase in the number of students and teachers who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last week, and a dramatic jump in the number of students on quarantine.

There are six students and two employees who are positive for the disease caused by the novel coronavirus as of Tuesday. Positive students include one at Cairo High School; two at Northside Elementary School; Two at Shiver School; and one at Whigham School. Positive teachers include one at Northside, and one at Southside Elementary School.

On quarantine as of Tuesday were 68 C.H.S. students; 18 at Eastside Elementary School; 25 at Northside; 17 at Shiver; 23 at Southside; 10 at Washington Middle School; and nine at Whigham.

Employees on quarantine include three at C.H.S., and one at Southside.

In the last seven days, Grady County residents testing positive went up by 17 to a total of 875 cases here so far this year. The number of deaths here from COVID-19 remained unchanged for a total of 25.

Compared to the state and nation, Grady County’s numbers appear much lower. According to the COVID-19 Health Equity Interactive Dashboard by Emory University, “As of 11/2/2020, the daily average of new COVID-19 cases in Grady County numbered 14 case(s) per 100,000 residents. In comparison, the daily average in Georgia was 18 case(s) per 100,000 and in the United States was 26 case(s) per 100,000.

“As of 11/2/2020, the daily average of new COVID-19 deaths in Grady County numbered 0 death(s) per 100,000 residents. In comparison, the daily average in Georgia was 0.2 death(s) per 100,000 and in the United States was 0.3 death(s) per 100,000.”

Grady General Hospital was treating one positive patient as of Tuesday, Archbold Memorial Hospital had seven such patients, while Mitchell County Hospital had one, and Northside Center for Behavioral and Psychiatric Care had two, according to spokeswoman Shealy Register with Archbold Medical Centers, which operates the hospitals.

Around the Southwest Georgia public health region, which includes Grady County, the percentage of hospital beds in use, both general and intensive care, is down slightly compared to this time last week.

There were 72.8 percent of the general inpatient beds in use as of Tuesday, compared to 77.65 percent last week. Only 73.04 percent of the available intensive care beds were in use, compared to 81.74 percent this same time last week.

The Grady County Health Department continues to offer free testing at its drive-thru center in the health department parking lot.

Testing dates include the first three Fridays of November,  1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 6 and 13, and 8:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 20.

Other dates and times include Tuesday, Nov. 10, 8:30 a.m. until 11 a.m.; Monday, Nov. 16, 8:30 a.m. until 11 a.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 24, 8:30 a..m. until 11 a.m.; and Saturday, Nov. 28, 9 a.m. until 11 a.m.

The Health Department in Cairo located at 1030 Fourth St., S.E.

Appointments for the Grady County site, and all public health collection sites, are strongly encouraged.

Register online, 24 hours a day, via smartphone, tablet, or computer at www.covid19.dph.ga.gov.

Follow the instructions to schedule an appointment with the preferred location, date, and time.

In addition, the appointment hotline is still available Monday through Saturday at (229) 352-6567.

Increases in positive cases in counties surrounding Grady continue to remain level with Leon County, Florida remaining as the county with the highest number of new cases in the last seven days at 402.

Mitchell County had four new cases in the last week, while Thomas and Decatur counties had 30 and 23 respectively. Thomas County also saw two new deaths, while Mitchell and Decatur counties had one each.

For more information about COVID-19, visit dph.georgia.gov/novelcoronavirus or cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.