Health care services in Georgia are feeling the strain of the current COVID-19 spike in Georgia.
“We’ve been busy,” aid Gilmer Public Safety Director Keith Kucera. “There are a lot of sick people. We haven’t missed a call.”
According to the Georgia Department of Health’s website tracking COVID-19 cases, the state is on pace with the outbreak which took place in late December early January.
As of Aug. 28, Gilmer County is listed with a spike of 61 cases and a seven day average of 39 cases, both record highs.
DPH issued a press release Thursday, Aug. 26, asking citizens to reduce the strain on Emergency Medical Services and Emergency Departments at hospitals around the state.
Piedmont Mountainside in Jasper, is listed as severely overcrowded but accepting normal traffic on a state website for coordinating ambulance traffic, Georgia Coordinating Center (GCC), as of Aug. 31.
“As far as bringing patients into the hospital, we can still bring patients into the hospital,” said Kucera.
Intake time is longer for each patient and it takes longer to get an ambulance back into service, he said.
When an ambulance reaches a hospital the patient must be released into an equal or higher level of care. This normally means a nurse. Because they are so busy, the ambulance crew has to wait longer attending to the patient.
Patients who can coordinate care through telemedicine with their primary health care providers would help ease some of the burden, said Kucera.
“Be safe,” he said. “Understand the precautions you need to take for COVID or anything else.”
He stressed that people should still call 911 if they are sick and in need of help.
“If they need it, we will be there,” Kucera said. “If they are sick, call 911.”
DPH recommended people in need of testing for COVID-19 find alternatives.
“To help keep hospital emergency departments open and able to treat medical emergencies, individuals seeking COVID testing should not go to hospital emergency departments. COVID-19 testing locations are available throughout Georgia and can be found on the DPH website at https://dph.georgia.gov/covidtesting,” according to the release.
COVID-19 Drive-thru Testing is available at the Gilmer County Civic Center, 1561 South Main Street on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
DPH ended the press release urging people to get vaccinated.
“COVID vaccination is available statewide and is our best tool for ending this pandemic and reducing the overwhelming strain on EMS, the healthcare system and healthcare providers. To find a COVID vaccination location, log on to https://dph.georgia.gov/covid-vaccine. Georgians aged 12 and older are urged to get vaccinated and wear a mask in public settings where social distancing is not possible and wash their hands frequently,” the release said.