How to safely celebrate New Year’s Eve 2021

Community
new year's eve

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – Everyone’s ready to close the chapter on 2020 and celebrate ringing in 2021, but COVID-19 precautions still need to be taken.

The CDC advises everyone to participate in New Year’s Eve celebrations with those who live in the same household or virtually.

For those celebrating outside of the home, wear a mask, socially distance, wash hands, avoid crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces, stay home if sick, and get a flu shot.

Those that host a small gathering need to be upfront with guests to set expectations. The CDC recommends events take place outside or open windows if inside. The areas should be frequently disinfected and extra masks should be on hand for those who don’t have one.

The background music needs to be low, so guests don’t have to shout. COVID-19 has been proven to spread through droplets present in one’s breath and shouting makes it easier to spread the virus.

Guests are asked to bring their own food, utensils, plates, and cups and to only use single-serve condiments.

The CDC also recommends partygoers don’t partake in alcohol or drugs because it could impair judgment.

Alternative New Year’s Eve Options

To keep everyone safe, a virtual New Year’s Eve celebration is highly encouraged, such as an online countdown, virtual concert, or dinner. Many fireworks shows and countdowns will take place on television or online.

People living together can decorate, play music, have a party together, watch movies, or plan a special meal. Also, reach out to family and friends through call or text to wish them a Happy New Year.

Neighborhoods can plan a countdown to midnight where they stand outside and cheer together.

new years eve

Individuals could set resolutions for the new year and practice self-care by reading a book or taking a walk.

Images courtesy of CDC.

CDC guide to safely celebrating Thanksgiving

Community
Thanksgiving CDC

ATLANTA, Ga – Thanksgiving is next week and to help those concerned with coronavirus safely take part in the holiday, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) issued the following guidelines.

First, the organization recommends to only celebrate with people who live in your household. However, Thanksgiving is a time when many gather together with their extended families. The CDC posed that families could host a virtual Thanksgiving where everyone shares a meal digitally. People could also watch television and play games with people who live in their household or write down everything they are grateful for and share those items with family and friends.

Individuals could also prepare traditional dishes and leave them outside a loved one’s home.

Individuals could leave dishes outside to protect family members.

CDC asks that visitors bring their own utensils, food, drinks, plates, and cups. Also, people are advised to avoid going in and out of areas where food is being prepared or handled. Single-use options such as ranch dressing packets and disposable items are encouraged.

Hosting Thanksgiving

Those hosting the Thanksgiving meal are urged to have the event outside, limit the number of guests, frequently disinfect touched surfaces, and set expectations. If they choose to have an indoor meal, the CDC recommends opening windows, limiting the number of people in the kitchen, asking people to bring their own food and drink, and if sharing food, only one person should serve with plastic utensils.

People should follow the 3 W’s of wearing a mask, washing your hands, and waiting for social distancing aka maintaining six feet of separation.

The mask needs to be two or more layers and securely fitted over your mouth and nose. Also when eating Thanksgiving dinner, the CDC recommends that the mask is stored in a safe place.

When washing hands, people should take 20 seconds to scrub clean with soap and water. Also, everyone is encouraged to keep hand sanitizer on their person. The sanitizer should be at least 60 percent alcohol.

Thanksgiving Travel

For those who are traveling to visit loved ones, the CDC strongly recommends that everyone stay home to limit potential spread of COVID-19. However, those who are traveling should check travel restrictions, get their flu shot, always wear a mask while on public transportation, maintain six feet separation, wash their hands, bring extra masks and hand sanitizer, and avoid touching their face.

A virtual meal between households is urged by the CDC.

Thanksgiving Shopping

As for Black Friday, many stores began their sales at the beginning of November. CDC recommends that people participate in online sales and use contactless pick-up methods. If shopping in person, visit open-air markets and maintain social distance.

Images are courtesy of the CDC.

Preparing for a safe and spooky Halloween

Community

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – As families and businesses navigate Halloween during a pandemic, Union County is preparing a socially distanced October 31 for the local children.

Halloween at the Market will transform the farmer’s market into trick-or-treat central from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The event is replacing Halloween on the Square in order to keep everyone safe and limit the potential spreading of COVID-19.

Local businesses and organizations that want to participate are encouraged to sign up on the Downtown Blairsville website. It’s free to contribute to Halloween at the Market.

The Chamber of Commerce has announced theatrical performances, drive in movie, Trunk or Treat, free candy, and games as part of the drive-thru event.

Halloween

Images from 2019 Halloween on the Square

More details are expected to be announced as the event approaches.

First Baptist Church has also announced a drive-thru Fall Festival on October 31 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Currently, the CDC cites that many traditional Halloween activities are high risk for spreading the virus and encourages safer alternatives. Low risk activities include pumpkin carving outside with neighbors, home decorating, Halloween ISpy, virtual costume contest, scavenger trick-or-treat inside the home, and movie night with family members.

Moderate risk activities are one-way trick-or-treating with individually wrapped bags at the end of the driveway, a small, socially distanced, open-air costume parade, an outdoor Halloween party with cloth masks and physical distance, an open-air, outdoor haunted attraction, visiting pumpkin patches with hand sanitizer and distancing, and Halloween movie night with friends spread six feet apart.

Also, costume masks aren’t substitutes for cloth masks. The CDC warns against costume masks unless “it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers the mouth and nose and doesn’t leave gaps around the face.” A costume mask shouldn’t be worn over a cloth mask because it can result in breathing difficulty.

Gov. Kemp Provides Overview of Federal Guidance to Mitigate COVID-19 in Nursing Homes

Press Release, State & National
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 facilities, or long-term care facilities, have become an accelerator for COVID-19. This is because residents, who are generally comprised of a vulnerable population, are even more vulnerable to the complications of the virus in enclosed environments like nursing homes.

The recommendations are as follows:

  • Nursing homes should immediately ensure that they are complying with all CMS and CDC guidance related to infection control.
  • As nursing homes are a critical part of the healthcare system, and because of the ease of spread in long-term care facilities and the severity of illness that occurs in residents with COVID-19, CMS/CDC urge state and local leaders to consider the needs of long-term care facilities with respect to supplies of PPE and COVID-19 tests.
  • The facilities should immediately implement symptom screening for all staff, residents, and visitors, including temperature checks.
  • All staff must use appropriate PPE when they are interacting with patients and residents, to the extent PPE is available and per CDC guidance on conservation of PPE.

To avoid transmission, facilities should use separate staffing teams for residents to the best of their ability, and as President Trump announced at the White House on April 2, 2020, the administration urges nursing homes to work with state and local leaders to designate separate facilities or units within a facility to separate COVID-19 negative residents from COVID-19 positive residents and individuals with unknown COVID-19 status.

These recommendations will help long-term care facilities as they consider how to best prevent or mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in their facilities. For more information on CMS actions, please visit cms.gov.

CDC Statement on COVID-19 Apple App

Featured, Featured Stories

Today, Apple Inc. – in partnership with the White House Coronavirus Task Force and the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – released an app and website
that guides Americans through a series of questions about their health and exposure to determine if they should seek
care for COVID-19 symptoms. The tool provides CDC recommendations on next steps including guidance on social
distancing and self-isolating, how to closely monitor symptoms, recommendations on testing, and when to contact a
medical provider.

This launch is a direct response to President Trump’s call for an all-of-America approach and will help Americans heed
CDC guidelines and self-isolate to limit COVID-19 transmission.

Users can download the free app from Apple’s App Store or access the tool online at www.apple.com/covid19 .
Everyone has a role to play as we work together to stop the spread of COVID-19. The latest recommendations can be
found at www.coronavirus.gov .

CDC works 24/7 protecting America’s health, safety and security. Whether disease start at home or abroad, are curable
or preventable, chronic or acute, or from human activity or deliberate attack, CDC responds to America’s most
pressing health threats. CDC is headquartered in Atlanta and has experts located throughout the United States and the world.

Kemp issues call to action to all Georgians, schools, and local governments

Community, Featured, Health

ATLANTA, Ga – Governor Brian Kemp announced schools, childcare providers, local governments in Georgia now have the option to close, at least, for the next two weeks, starting this afternoon, during his latest COVID-19 press conference.

Mere hours after he confirmed, the first death in Georgia from COVID-19, Kemp gathered Speaker of the House David Ralston, Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, Georgia Department of  Public Health Commissioner Dr. Kathleen Toomey, and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms to reveal extra measures for Georgians regarding the virus.

Kemp’s administration changed messaging to protect the elderly and chronically ill Georgians from COVID-19.

“Our message is changing. Elderly Georgians and those with chronic underlying health conditions face a much higher risk of adverse consequences from exposure to coronavirus,” stated Kemp. “We need to help them to dramatically limit their exposure to the public for the foreseeable future.”

These individuals need to avoid mass gatherings, even faith-based events to protect themselves against the virus. Two COVID-19 patients in Bartow did share contact by attending the same church.

Kemp urged citizens to talk with their families and make plans to protect those at risk by picking up their groceries, prescriptions, and helping them in any way possible.

The call to close schools or government offices isn’t a mandate, but, rather, the option now available, when “prudent”, to help keep Georgians safe. However, if counties, schools, or childcare providers don’t see a need to shut down, then they do not have to close.

Additionally, all elder care facilities are now closed to visitation until April 10, 2020, except for family members and end of life services.

Non-essential travel and telework are now in effect for state government, but the government offices and Capitol will remain open. Kemp’s office will send out guidance to all agency leaders for implantation.

The governor also implemented four new committees as part of the coronavirus task force: Emergency Preparedness Committee, led by Insurance Safety and Fire Commissioner John King, Economic Impact Committee, led by State Economist Jeff Dorfman, Primary Care Physicians Committee, led by Dr. Ben Watson, and Homeless Community Committee, led by Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.

Update on Testing Capabilities

Toomey stated that currently the state can perform 50 tests a day and the department of health has more equipment on the way as well as additional training. She hopes the number will be up to 100 tests a day by the end of next week. Right now, Georgia has enough materials to conduct 500 tests in part thanks to the support from the CDC.

“We are testing high-risk patients,” said Toomey.

GA DPH commissioner Dr. Toomey is hopeful that Georgia’s ability to test for COVID-19 will continue to grow.

20 percent of patients have more severe diseases and five percent need help breathing, so those who fall into the high-risk category are being tested first.

Lab Corp can now process tests, which should speed up the process. The CDC has eased restrictions on COVID-19 testing, so the M-95 masks are no longer necessary as part of protective equipment.

She stressed the importance of those who might have COVID-19 to call ahead because no one wants to infect those in the emergency room or waiting room.

Back to Top