County issues emergency need to replace HVAC systems
News June 28, 2022
ELLIJAY, Ga. – Three units in the Gilmer Detention Center and another unit at the learning center connected to the Health Department have failed with no possibility of repairs for these systems.
Gilmer’s BOC has previously bid out HVAC systems to fulfill needs amongst the courthouse and other facilities. However, they rejected the bid they received at the time. Now, the board is returning to readdress the issue as these new system failures have occurred.
Board of Commissioners Chairman Charlie Paris said, “What I would like to do would be to make a motion that we deem this to be an emergency situation and find somebody, get a couple quotes, and get it done as quickly as we can because we are about to head into July and we can’t have these folks in 100 degree buildings.”
Paris also noted that the learning center system is at least 33 years old. Similar to many of the systems in the courthouse, these older systems are reaching the end of their lifespans. The courthouse has been suffering system failures that have caused some offices to begin closing early, but has since repaired them to working order. The county will still continue seeking the bid to repair those but will not add them into the emergency order.
Done in a special meeting in June 2022, the Board of Commissioners will be putting out the order for replacements ahead of the main bid, which is being advertised now. Additionally, the board noted that while two of the systems in the detention constitute the emergency, they are going to go ahead with the extra system in that facility instead of going through two different contracts and costing the county more in the long run.
The county’s July agenda should return to the normal process for the remaining systems.
Booster dose approval, mass vaccination centers in District 2 to reopen
Community September 27, 2021
GAINESVILLE – Booster vaccine doses for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine have been approved for specific groups of fully vaccinated individuals. Although the booster dose is not required, it will help fully vaccinated people maintain protection over the coming months.
It is important to note, COVID-19 vaccines are working well to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death, but with the introduction of the Delta variant, public health experts noticed a reduction of protections against mild and moderate disease.
Booster vaccine doses are approved for the following groups of people who received their second Pfizer vaccine at least 6 months ago: Recommendations will only apply to individuals who received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for their primary series
- 65 years and older
- Residents of long-term care facilities
- 18 and older with underlying medical conditions that put a person at high-risk
- 18 and older who have an occupational or institutional exposure risk
The approval is for the Pfizer vaccine ONLY. Moderna and Johnson and Johnson (J&J) vaccines have not been approved for additional booster doses, right now there is not enough data to support a booster dose recommendation. Both Moderna and J&J are expected to submit data to the FDA in support of booster doses in the coming weeks.
District 2 Public Health and Northeast Georgia Health System want to provide the community an opportunity to be vaccinated with ease and remind the community it is important to get fully vaccinated to keep our communities safe and to stop the spread of COVID-19. District 2 will re-open mass vaccination sites in most of its 13 counties as of September 27.
The following counties will begin administering all doses of the Pfizer vaccine and will have first dose Moderna and J&J vaccines available upon request on September 27:
All Health Departments will be vaccinating every other Saturday. Hall and Forsyth health departments will be vaccinating every Saturday starting October 2. Check with your local health department for Saturday hours and location.
- Banks County – City of Homer Fire Department – 243 Sycamore St., Homer, GA 30547
Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Tuesday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Dawson County – Fire Station #2 – 8388 Hwy 53, Dawsonville, GA 30534
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Franklin County – Franklin Co. Recreation Department – 557 Rocky Ford Rd., Carnesville, GA 30531
Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- Forsyth County – Northside Forsyth Hospital – 1800 Northside Forsyth Dr. suite 360, Cumming, GA 30041
Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday – 8:30 am to 12:00 pm (at the Forsyth Co. Health Department, October 2)
- Habersham County – Cornelia First Presbyterian – 469 N. Main St. Cornelia GA, 30531
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- Hall County – Chicopee Woods Agricultural Center – 1855 Calvary Church Rd., Gainesville, GA 30507
Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday – 8:30am to 12:00pm (Starts on October 2)
- Hart County – Flat Shoals Baptist Church – 2999 Bowersville Hwy, Bowersville, GA 30516
Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Tuesday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Towns County – Towns County Recreations Department – 150 Foster Park Rd. Hiawassee, GA 30512
Monday and Wednesday 1:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. and Tuesday 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- White County – The Bridge Church – 607 Hulsey Rd. Cleveland, GA 30528
Monday 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Tuesday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Lumpkin, Rabun, and Union Counties will continue offering COVID vaccines at the health departments until demand requires a move to a larger location.
Appointments are not required. If an individual prefers to schedule an appointment, they may do so using the VRAS scheduling system via the District 2 Public Health website. Hours of operation and locations may change due to demand. Reference the schedule of locations and hours posted on the public health website to ensure the vaccine site in your county is operational.
For more information on the COVID-19 booster dose visit the CDC website to learn more.
COVID-19 vaccine moving off-site at some health department locations
Community, News September 20, 2021
GAINESVILLE – In anticipation of the upcoming flu season and to prepare for the approval of the COVID-19 booster dose for the general population, District 2 Health Departments will be re-opening some of its off-site COVID-19 mass vaccination sites.
Approval for the booster dose is still pending; however, starting Monday, September 20, Forsyth and Hall County will move to their designated off-site locations to begin administering Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines. The district will not administer booster doses until approval and guidance is granted by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and FDA.
The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) will await recommendations from the CDC and ACIP before releasing a plan to administer booster doses of Pfizer COVID vaccine in Georgia. The FDA’s discussion and review of data about the need for COVID vaccine boosters is a first step in the process; the same questions will be considered by ACIP during meetings currently scheduled for Sept. 22-23. When CDC/ACIP provide recommendations and guidelines for booster shots, DPH has the inventory to quickly ramp up access to Pfizer COVID vaccine statewide.
“We anticipate an increase in traffic in our health departments with the administration of both the COVID booster dose and flu vaccine,” said Dr. Zachary Taylor, District 2 Public Health Director. “By moving our COVID-19 operation off-site, we will alleviate the influx of people inside our waiting rooms.”
Forsyth County Health Department will operate its COVID-19 mass vaccination site at Northside Forsyth Hospital, Suite 360, located at 1200 Northside Forsyth Dr. Cumming, GA 30041.
Hall County will operate its mass vaccine site from the Chicopee Woods Agricultural Center, located at 1855 Calvary Church Rd., Gainesville, GA 30507.
The hours of operation for both sites are Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Appointments are not required. If an individual prefers to schedule an appointment, they may do so using the VRAS scheduling system via the District 2 Public Health website. Hours of operation and locations may change due to demand. Reference the schedule of locations and hours posted on the public health website to ensure the vaccine site in your county is operational.
For more information on the COVID-19 booster dose visit the CDC website to learn more.
Hall County Health Department providing vaccines on Labor Day
News, Press Release August 30, 2021
HALL COUNTY – Labor Day weekend will look a little different this year due to an increased need to be vaccinated due to the Delta surge. Hall County Health Department will be working on Labor Day to vaccinate the community.
On Friday, September 3, Governor Kemp is providing paid time off for state employees to receive their COVID-19 vaccines. For this reason, District 2 Public Health Departments will remain open from 8:00 am until 12:00 pm to vaccinate all state employees and the public.
On Monday, September 6, Hall County Health Department will be providing COVID-19 vaccinations and gas gift cards in the amount of fifty dollars for the first 100 Georgia residents, 18 years and older, that wish to receive their vaccine. The health department will be vaccinating from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. They will be closed for lunch from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm.
As Labor Day approaches, it is as important as ever to avoid crowds, wear a mask, wash your hands, and watch your distance. If you have not gotten a COVID-19 vaccine this is the weekend to get vaccinated.
To find more information regarding COVID-19 for your county, please visit phdistrict2.org.
District Two Cases by County
Banks
Cases (last 2 weeks): 137
Cases Per 100k (last 2 weeks): 686
Positive PCR Tests (last 2 weeks): 20.4%
Vaccines Administered: 9, 788
One Dose: 5,452(29% of residents)
Fully: 4,626 (25% of residents
Deaths (Duration of COVID): 44
Overall Hospitalizations (March 2020-Aug 31) : 234
Dawson
Cases (last 2 weeks): 375
Cases (last 2 weeks) Per 100k: 1388
Positive PCR Tests (last 2 weeks): 23.1%
Vaccines Administered: 17,662
One Dose: 9, 596 (39% of residents)
Fully: 8,423 (34% of residents)
Deaths (Duration of COVID): 49
Overall Hospitalizations (March 2020-Aug 31) : 276
Forsyth
Cases (last 2 weeks): 1,918
Cases (last 2 weeks) Per 100k: 760
Positive PCR Tests (last 2 weeks): 17.6%
Vaccines Administered: 236,504
One Dose: 125,601 (55% of residents)
Fully: 113,488 (50% of residents)
Deaths (Duration of COVID): 206
Overall Hospitalizations (March 2020-Aug 30) : 1,096
Franklin
Cases (last 2 weeks): 162
Cases (last 2 weeks) Per 100k: 694
Positive PCR Tests (last 2 weeks): 20.8%
Vaccines Administered: 14,552
One Dose: 8,086 (36% of residents)
Fully: 6,916 (30% of residents)
Deaths (Duration of COVID): 50
Overall Hospitalizations (March 2020-Aug 30) : 190
Habersham
Cases (last 2 weeks): 300
Cases (last 2 weeks) Per 100k: 655
Positive PCR Tests (last 2 weeks): 19.0%
Vaccines Administered: 31,352
One Dose: 17,448 (39% of residents)
Fully: 14,869 (33% of residents)
Deaths (Duration of COVID): 160
Overall Hospitalizations (March 2020-Aug 30) : 528
Hall
Cases (last 2 weeks): 1555
Cases (last 2 weeks) Per 100k: 754
Positive PCR Tests (last 2 weeks): 18.3%
Vaccines Administered: 160,642
One Dose: 87,756 (44% of residents)
Fully: 76,519 (39% of residents)
Deaths (Duration of COVID): 487
Overall Hospitalizations: 2,742
Hart
Cases (last 2 weeks): 126
Cases (last 2 weeks) Per 100k: 483
Positive PCR Tests (last 2 weeks): 18.1%
Vaccines Administered: 17,449
One Dose: 9,502 (37% of residents)
Fully: 8,314 (32% of residents)
Deaths (Duration of COVID): 40
Overall Hospitalizations (March 2020 -August 2021): 142
Lumpkin
Cases (last 2 weeks): 370
Cases (last 2 weeks) Per 100k: 1,095
Positive PCR Tests (last 2 weeks): 18.1%
Vaccines Administered: 20,990
One Dose: 11439 (35% of residents)
Fully: 10,011 (31% of residents)
Deaths (Duration of COVID): 73
Overall Hospitalizations (March 2020 -August 2021): 353
Rabun
Cases (last 2 weeks): 63
Cases (last 2 weeks) Per 100k: 371
Positive PCR Tests (last 2 weeks): 14.9%
Vaccines Administered: 14,613
One Dose: 7,750 (47% of residents)
Fully: 6,906 (41% of residents)
Deaths (Duration of COVID): 45
Overall Hospitalizations (March 2020 -August 2021): 174
Stephens
Cases (last 2 weeks): 253
Cases (last 2 weeks) Per 100k: 961
Positive PCR Tests (last 2 weeks): 27.8%
Vaccines Administered: 18,592
One Dose: 10,099 (39% of residents)
Fully: 8,687 (34% of residents)
Deaths (Duration of COVID): 80
Overall Hospitalizations (March 2020 -August 2021): 280
Towns
Cases (last 2 weeks): 103
Cases (last 2 weeks) Per 100k: 856
Positive PCR Tests (last 2 weeks): 26.2%
Vaccines Administered: 11,159
One Dose: 5,883 (51% of residents)
Fully: 5,343 (46% of residents)
Deaths (Duration of COVID): 52
Overall Hospitalizations (March 2020 -August 2021): 167
Union
Cases (last 2 weeks): 253
Cases (last 2 weeks) Per 100k: 999
Positive PCR Tests (last 2 weeks): 33.6%
Vaccines Administered: 20, 586
One Dose: 11,011 (47% of residents)
Fully: 9,962 (43% of residents)
Deaths (Duration of COVID): 83
Overall Hospitalizations (March 2020 -August 2021): 274
White
Cases (last 2 weeks): 339
Cases (last 2 weeks) Per 100k: 1,067
Positive PCR Tests (last 2 weeks): 24.5%
Vaccines Administered: 19,565
One Dose: 10,640 (36% of residents)
Fully: 9,334 (32% of residents)
Deaths (Duration of COVID): 76
Overall Hospitalizations (March 2020 -August 2021): 343
DPH Release – Expanded Testing For COVID-19 In Georgia
Featured, Health April 15, 2020
Revised Testing Criteria and Increased Number of Test Sites
Atlanta – The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is increasing the number of specimen
collection sites statewide for COVID-19 testing, and is revising the current testing criteria to
accommodate more testing of Georgia residents.
Effective immediately, all symptomatic individuals will be eligible for COVID-19 testing. Health
care workers, first responders, law enforcement and long-term care facility residents and staff will
still be prioritized for testing regardless of whether they are or are not symptomatic.
Referrals are still required, however, there are now two ways to be referred to a DPH specimen
collection site:
Local Health Department –
Individuals who meet COVID-19 testing criteria may now be referred to DPH specimen collection
sites by contacting their local health department. They will be screened by appropriate health
department staff and referred to the closest, most convenient specimen collection site.
Contact information for local health departments can be found on the DPH homepage, under COVID-19 in Georgia.
Health Care Provider Referral –
Health care providers and/or physicians can and should continue to refer patients for COVID-19
testing.
People should not arrive unannounced or without a scheduled appointment at a specimen
collection site, hospital, emergency room or other health care facility. Only individuals who have
been evaluated by public health or a health care provider and assigned a PUI # number will
be referred to these drive-thru sites.
Together we can stop further spread of COVID-19 in our state and save lives.
Stay home – the Governor has issued a shelter-in-place Executive Order that should be observed
by all residents and visitors.
Practice social distancing – keep at least 6 feet between yourself and other people.
Wash your hands – use soap and water and scrub for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based
hand sanitizer (60% alcohol) if soap and water aren’t readily available.
Wear a mask – the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend the use of face
masks to help slow the spread of COVID-19, especially where socials distancing is difficult to
maintain (grocery stores, pharmacies, etc.), and especially in areas of significant community-
based transmission.
For more information about COVID-19 Click here or
Click Here.
For updates on the COVID-19 situation as it develops, follow @GaDPH, @GeorgiaEMA, and
@GovKemp on Twitter and @GaDPH, @GEMA.OHS, and @GovKemp on Facebook.