Today's 3 p.m. Dade County COVID-19 live-streamed update was a gracefully short Friday session. Dade County boss Ted Rumley read the daily numbers, which continue to climb grimly: 2001 confirmed virus cases in Georgia up from 1525 Thursday, 64 deaths up from 48. There are still no cases reported in Dade though the deadly virus has made its way into neighboring Jackson and DeKalb counties across the state line.
Besides the steadily larger numbers, Rumley said little had changed since Friday, and what he mostly had to report today was a COVID-19 conference with Memorial CHI doctors in Catoosa County he had attended this morning along with leaders of neighboring Georgia counties. The conference was live-streamed and a video is currently available on the Dade County Facebook page along with the daily county updates. The Planet's FB page also contains links.
Rumley said one of the interesting points the doctors had mentioned is that is that children can carry the infection without symptoms, so that though they never get sick themselves they can get pass the sickness to others. This can be particularly worrisome for grandparents taking care of grandchildren. Rumley said they didn't exactly forbid older adults to babysit the grands. "They said they weren't going to go there, but it's something to think about," he said.
Rumley said the doctors identified as COVID-19 signs not just the dread fever and dry cough but sensory changes. "They have confirmed that one of the symptoms of this is loss of taste and smell," he said.
A final point is that the doctors had agreed with the Boss's advice earlier in the week on the merits of healthy outdoor activity. "Fresh air is good," he said. "On days that you can, open your windows. Go out on your porch and get some fresh air."
Don't take the kids to the playground, where they'll touch play equipment and perhaps get too close to other children, but there's nothing wrong with taking them for a hike in the state park. "Go fly a kite," said Rumley. "Go out and get that fresh air in your lungs."
Rumley repeated the procedure for those who think they may have symptoms: Call your physician if you have one. At the CHI Memorial clinic in Trenton, staff will tell you what to do and will schedule for a test if you meet the criteria. Rumley stressed that the testing is free--even if your insurance carrier won't pay, you won't be charged.
The Planet consulted Trenton CHI Memorial office and learned that if you do think you have the symptoms and call CHI (706-657-4183), you will first be evaluated in a "telemedicine" session, then sent to a test site in Chattanooga if there is concern you may be infected. CHI uses a commercial lab there rather than the state one. This differs from the health department procedure, which involves testing in Rome or Cartersville, which are in the state of Georgia but much further away.
Rumley warned that this strange interlude will change life as we know if forever. "You'll never wake up and think the same as you did before all this started." And from what the doctors said, "all this" is go on for some time. "We're not even halfway through, according to them," said Rumley.
"This is a new way of things," agreed Alex Case, director of emergency services for the county. He warned that it's allergy season, which can induce symptoms similar to those of the dread virus. Telling the difference was one topic that came up at this morning's conference.
Case also said he'd been asked whether local restaurants could provide outdoor seating to accommodate their takeout patrons now that indoor dining is prohibited. The answer: probably not, said Case. Apparently if restaurant owners are not already approved for outdoor seating they may not assume it's now kosher, according to Case.
Kathy Johnson of DFACS said application forms for food stamps and other social services are now posted outside the DFACS Administrative Building office. If you need one mailed to you, you can call (706) 657-7511.
The county will continue these afternoon updates over the weekend at 3 p.m. each day. The Planet does not provide these recaps of same on Saturdays and Sundays but will post the videos on its Facebook page.
And you can check the daily numbers on the Georgia Department of Public Health's online report, which is updated at noon and 7 p.m. each day. As usual, you can access it from here by clicking on the GDPH logo at right.
