It was a full house March 3 at the Henry County Emergency Management Agency headquarters as a variety of county and city officials, along with other community leaders, met for a briefing to get the latest news on the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
No cases of the virus have surfaced in the county, but local leaders took the opportunity to discuss how to address the issue proactively so that local citizens have the best chance to stay healthy. Among those stakeholders were representatives of the Henry County Board of Education, which has released information on a regular basis to keep students and parents informed.
A committee has been formed to education the public on the matter, according to a statement released by county officials after the meeting.
With so many different entities represented at the meeting, the importance of putting out a unified message was stressed. Officials were encouraged to refer to the Centers for Disease Control (cdc.gov) for the latest updates and best practices, and also to visit Ready.gov for information on how to respond in a public emergency.
County emergency director Don Ash pointed out that preparedness is just as important for a health-related incident as it is for weather emergencies and other events that are perhaps more commonly seen. “I want people to be prepared and informed, but not to panic,” he said.
Health department officials addressed various ways to stay healthy, including common-sense methods such as washing hands, avoiding physical contact and staying home from work or school when sick. District health director
Dr. Olugbenga O. Obasanjo noted that the majority of diagnosed cases have been mild, adding that the most up-to-date information can be found on the CDC website.
County school superintendent Dr. Mary Elizabeth Davis sent a letter March 3 to all parents and guardians of students to assure them that district officials had been making preparations “well in advance” of the first confirmed cases in Georgia.
“Our internal response team meets on a regular basis in consultation with our district lead nurse about preparation and communication efforts, and, if necessary, the continuity of academic services for students and business operations for our employees and community stakeholders,” Davis stated. “We also meet regularly with a county-level team comprised of county health and emergency officials. That partnership has served us well on many occasions when dealing with different emergencies in Henry County, and we stand ready to utilize their support once again. The safety of our schools, including healthy learning spaces, remains a top priority for our board of education and district leaders, and we continue to take all proactive measures possible to ensure our district is ready should something happen in our county.”
Ongoing procedures at the district’s 51 schools include more detailed cleaning processes and regular reminders to students and staff about how hygiene can affect overall conditions. Parents are also being urged to refrain from allowing students who show signs of sickness to come to school.
“The immediate risk of COVID-19 to the general public, however, remains low at this time,” according to Georgia Department of Public Health Commissioner Kathleen Toomey, M.D., M.P.H. “I cannot emphasize enough the need for all Georgians to follow the simple precautions that DPH always urges to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses.”
The latest information from the CDC and the DPH is being shared with all of the district’s medical support personnel. “Like all school systems and major employers, we are relying heavily on these two organizations as they are the subject matter experts and are providing the pertinent information the public should know, including all the latest developments and updates,” Davis stated.
In a March 4 statement, Davis encouraged parents to keep updated on CDC guidelines when traveling to certain regions around the world.
