First time in over a year no COVID patients in Archbold facilities

For the first time since March 2020, Archbold reported zero inpatient cases of COVID-19 within its system Tuesday. None of the system’s hospitals, nursing homes or other facilities, including Grady General Hospital and Archbold Memorial Hospital, were treating COVID-positive patients, a “momentous day” as Darcy Craven, president and chief executive officer of Archbold, described it.

Crystal Wells, administrator of Grady General said, “Our staff has spent hours providing care to COVID patients and fighting the battle to prevent COVID-19 through vaccine clinics. We know our fight is not over but to see a decline in the number of patients being admitted to the hospital setting gives us hope. . .hope that everyone will get vaccinated and understand the severity of this deadly virus.”

Just last Tuesday, June 15, Archbold in Thomasville was treating three covid-positive patients and Grady General had one.

Craven went on to state of Tuesday’s positive news, “While this is a significant benchmark for Archbold, symbolizing a hopeful new phase in our fight against COVID-19, there are still positive cases within our communities.”

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported three new cases of the disease caused by the novel coronavirus in Grady County in the last week, but no new deaths here.

The numbers of new cases in surrounding counties had declined. In the last week, according to the state public health information, Thomas County saw three new cases, Decatur County had five and Mitchell County had zero. None of the counties reported any new deaths either.

Still, both Craven and Wells encourage those Grady County residents who have not gotten vaccinated to do so.

Craven said, “In order for us to continue to see little to no new inpatient cases, we must do our part in the fight against this deadly virus. I strongly encourage you to get vaccinated if you have not done so.”

Currently, only 31 percent of Grady County residents have had at least one dose of the vaccine and 28 percent are fully vaccinated, according to Georgia public health information, while 42 percent of all Georgians have had at least once dose of the vaccine and 37 percent are fully vaccinated.

Nationally, 53.5 percent of Americans have had at least one dose and 45.3 percent are considered fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

All vaccinations are free to everyone. To make an appointment, call either the Grady County Health Department at (229) 377-2992 or Archbold’s Corporate Care Center at (229) 584-SHOT or (229) 584-7468.