BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – In a special emergency meeting held on April 2, 2020, Blairsville City Council unanimously approved the closure of city rental properties for the next 28 to 30 days and issued a shelter in place order for city residents. The city council and mayor took these actions in order to slow the spread […]
Read More »Gov. Kemp Provides Overview of Federal Guidance to Mitigate COVID-19 in Nursing Homes
Atlanta, GA – Today Governor Brian P. Kemp provided an overview of the recommendations President Trump and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued, in consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in nursing homes. Nursing homes, also known as skilled nursing facilities, nursing […]
Read More »Union General Hospital gives notice of positive COVID-19 case
PRESS RELEASE – Union General Hospital is providing notice to the public that it received its first report of a positive case of COVID-19 that is being cared for as an inpatient at our facility. This individual was admitted late during the evening of Tuesday, March 31, 2020. The patient was isolated in accordance with […]
Read More »Gov. Kemp and UGA Provide Overview of CARES Act Funding
Atlanta, GA – Today Governor Brian P. Kemp and the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provided an overview of the funding allocated by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This critical funding will help small businesses keep workers employed during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Through the University of Georgia’s 17 […]
Read More »Gov. Kemp, DCH Announce Approval of 1135 Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids® Waiver
Atlanta, GA – Governor Brian P. Kemp and the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) today announced that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved Georgia’s section 1135 waiver request on the temporary checklist, granting the state a number of flexibilities for Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids® providers and members to combat the COVID-19 […]
Read More »Georgia DPH adjusts COVID-19 models to include asymptomatic transmission
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – As of April 1, Georgia had 4,748 cases and 20,328 completed COVID-19 tests, but Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) has only tested symptomatic and high-risk patients. As a result, some cases have gone undiagnosed across Georgia. Currently, DPH is following CDC guidelines, which still states online that not everyone needs to […]
Read More »Kemp, Carden deploy soldiers to fight COVID-19 in long-term care facilities
Atlanta, GA – Over the next few weeks, Governor Brian P. Kemp and Georgia National Guard Adjutant General Tom Carden will activate and deploy over 100 Guardsmen to any long-term care facility – assisted living facility or nursing home – with COVID-19 cases. The Governor and Adjutant General will send troops to specific locations to implement […]
Read More »Union General releases new guidelines, designates sick and well clinics
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – In a press release issued by Union General Health System, the medical facility is updating its operating procedures and establishing sick and well clinics in the community. In response to the Blairsville City Council’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) Emergency Ordinance, Union General Health System will no longer perform elective procedures/diagnostic testing, until further notice. […]
Read More »Union County declares public health state of emergency, some businesses to close
UNION COUNTY, Ga – At 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 26, Sole Commissioner Lamar Paris approved a state of emergency in Union County on the courthouse steps. The declaration is to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Union County. The order goes into effect on March 30 at 12:01 am. and will last until […]
Read More »Kemp, Williams: Officials Will Enforce Social Distancing at Parks, Lakes
Atlanta, GA – Today Governor Brian P. Kemp joined Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Mark Williams to issue the following joint statement: “Across Georgia, there is a mandatory shelter in place order for medically fragile individuals, and gatherings of more than ten people are banned unless there is at least six feet between each person at […]
Read More »UPDATE: Ralston sends another letter to Raffensperger regarding Georgia Primary
UPDATE: April 8, 2020 ATLANTA, Ga – After announcing his support of extending the Public Health State of Emergency through May 13, House Speaker David Ralston has again asked Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) to move the Georgia Primary to June 16. Ralston has been very vocal about moving the election until Georgia can […]
Read More »Speaker Ralston asks Raffensperger to move Georgia Primary
ATLANTA, Ga – Georgia Speaker of the House David Ralston (Ga -7) sent a letter to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) asking him to please move Georgia’s May 19th primary due to novel coronavirus, COVID-19. In the letter, Ralston asserts that he would like the primary to be moved to a date of June […]
Read More »Kemp Closes K-12 Public Schools Through April 24
Atlanta, GA – Today Governor Brian P. Kemp issued Executive Order 03.26.20.02 closing public elementary and secondary schools for in-person instruction through April 24, 2020. Students may return to school on Monday, April 27, 2020. “I am deeply grateful to State School Superintendent Richard Woods, the Georgia Department of Education, superintendents, and parents for keeping us informed and […]
Read More »Blairsville City Council closes on-premise dining, gyms, and salons in emergency declaration
Blairsville, Ga – Blairsville City Council passed an emergency declaration and ordinance in an effort to combat the spread of COVID-19. It closed many non-essential businesses and banned on-premise dining within city limits. In a 3 p.m. teleconference call, councilmembers Tony Dyer, Rhonda Mahan, and Mary Ruth Cook all voted to approve the public health […]
Read More »March 27 UPDATE: Businesses closing and services
UNION COUNTY, Ga – As COVID-19 cases continue to grow, many businesses are adjusting their schedule to keep everyone safe during this national crisis. Below, you will find information about all closing announcements or hour changes. Many stores and restaurants in the area are offering services that accommodate the CDC guidelines for all-Americans, you can […]
Read More »Schools work tirelessly to ensure “success for all” for students
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – Once Union County Schools (UCS) decided to close school buildings to prevent the spread of COVID-19, school leaders knew they needed to quickly find a way to remotely educate students and feed children in need in the community. On Friday, March 14, UCS applied and received a school nutrition waiver. The waiver […]
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