June 12, 2020: Coronavirus Community Call

Ben gave the following updates concerning the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 from national, state, and local news sources:

The United States surpassed 2 million coronavirus cases on Thursday, less than five months after the first known case was reported on American soil.

U.S. stock futures recovered ground Friday, following the biggest rout in the American stock market since mid-March.
Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 2%, suggesting that the blue-chips index will recover some of its losses from Thursday’s 6.9% tumble. The pan continental Stoxx Europe 600 climbed 1%.

Atlanta Journal Constitution: Governor Brian Kemp scaled back more coronavirus restrictions Thursday by signing an order that lifts a shelter-in-place requirement for many older Georgians, clears the way for live entertainment venues to reopen and permits larger gatherings.

The Alabama Department of Public Health confirmed nearly 850 new coronavirus cases in Alabama on Thursday, the highest single-day total to date. The new cases bring Alabama’s cumulative case total to nearly 22,500, with 13,500 presumed recoveries and 750 people having lost their lives to the virus.

Columbus Area Updates

Mayor Henderson gave the following updates:

As of yesterday, total cases are 919 with 25 deaths in Muscogee County
The hospitalization rate continues to climb; believe that it may have started to level off
Hospitals are monitoring their resources and there is no present danger of running out
The city is planning to reopen some of the recreational facilities for outdoor activities( i.e. baseball fields and soccer fields); social distancing is required and if residents desire to hold an organized event (i.e. practice or game) they will need to contact Parks and Recreation to make sure that their plan is consistent with the Governor’s orders
The city is not reopening indoor recreational facilities at this point; will revisit this at the end of June
Asking residents to continue to move around wisely

Jack gave the following updates:

Due to the weather, the Columbus Health Department will change testing hours. Starting Monday, hours will be 7:00am until 11:00am
Individuals can go online to pre-register for testing to speed up the process, but this is not required. www.westcentralhealthdistirct.com
This Saturday, June 13, 2020 the Columbus Health Department will conduct testing in Talbotton, Georgia (Talbot County) at the Central High School Sports Complex on School House Road off Hwy 208 from 9:00am until 12:00noon
The case count in Muscogee County is 919; 502 in Sumter County and 240 in Crisp County
The Columbus Health Department is starting their move to the new building on Veterans Parkway. They do not expect this to cause any disruption to the testing services that will continue at the Comer Avenue location

Dr. Lewis gave the following updates:

Virtual summer school for high school continues through June 18, 2020; middle school begins on Monday through July 2, 2020
This week continuing internal and external stakeholder group discussions to get input on the start of the 2020-2021 school year

Pat gave the following updates:

Home for Good and the Continuum of Care hosted their initial Community Wide Landlord Engagement Meeting on yesterday. The purpose of the meeting was to engage landlords and plan on how to best help the most vulnerable in our community access safe and affordable housing. The group was small, but everyone was passionate. The meeting was recorded. See the attached link. https://youtu.be/t2EogD9Ntcw

Betsy gave the following updates:

After todays’ call the committee will start to work on next week’s grant request
So far to date, the fund has awarded a total of $979, 683 in grants
There continues to be significant need; will continue this work as long as it is needed to get through this crisis; please continue to support the fund as you are able to cfcv.com/coronavirus
We will have a call the Monday, June 15, 2020 and then the call will be transitioning to a Wednesday only call beginning on Wednesday, June 17, 2020; the call time will remain at 10:00am
If anyone has any suggestions about the format of the call, please email Betsy bcovington@cfcv.com or Ben bmoser@unitedwayofthecv.org

Lisa gave the following updates:

Currently, Georgia Power is still not disconnecting services for residential customers due to COVID-19 and the impact that it has had
Georgia Power has not disconnected any residential services since March; they will continue to operate this way until July 15, 2020 at which time they will transition back to their normal operating procedures
They will work with customers who have developed high arrears by spreading payments out over several months
Enrichment Services will be utilizing Georgia Power’s closed drive thru to service citizens while practicing social distancing; there will be a ribbon cutting today

Melody gave the following updates:

They have seen a steady paced uptick over the last nine days; had a higher admit day yesterday
However, they have been able to manage more patients on the clinical floor versus their critical care unit due to their conditions being less acute
Trying to anticipate where the decline starts
Services fully opened except for visitors; still evaluating
Appreciates the support of the community

Katie gave the following updates:Thanked everyone for sending volunteers to help with the Meals on Wheels program and asked everyone to keep sending them

Martha gave the following updates:

There are agencies including Chattahoochee Valley Episcopal Ministry that have received funds from the Coronavirus Relief Fund to help clients with utility assistance and this is helping clients not to get too far in arrears; very grateful for that
The Emergency Food and Shelter program has been awarded and is being issued and includes rent, mortgage and utility assistance for Muscogee County Georgia and Russell County Alabama as well
The best way to find out who is offering rent, mortgage and utility assistance is to contact 211

Jennifer gave the following updates:

Thanked Lisa for her update and Martha for her comments
Thanked all service providers/agencies that provide financial assistance for doing more, doing what they do in new ways and working together in these difficult times