Health district notes large gatherings as big contributor to spread
Gilmer County’s confirmed COVID-19 case total rose by 45 new positive cases documented between July 22 and 28, according to information provided by North Georgia Health District 1-2 of the Georgia Department of Public Health.
“On the 22nd, there were 392. Today there are 437, so cases are still sharply increasing in Gilmer,” said Jennifer King, the health district’s public information officer, on Tuesday.
Dr. Zachary Taylor, the district’s health director, said people attending large gatherings and not wearing masks and socially distancing are primary factors behind the continuing spread.
“You’re still having fairly widespread community transmission. You have something like an event where several people get infected and they carry the virus out to their contacts. Those people get infected and they infect other people. That’s how pandemics and infections spread in a community. Until people start wearing masks, socially distance from each other and continue with the hand hygiene, you’re going to continue to have transmission,” Taylor said. “Plus, when we identify a case, they need to comply with the isolation orders. If they’re identified as a contact, they need to comply with the quarantine orders. That is the only way you’re going to bring down transmission.”
Taylor said new cases in Gilmer were declining, but attendance at large summer gatherings, including a church revival in the county and July Fourth travel and celebrations, contributed to the recent spikes.
“The real risk is when people get together in large groups. The big trigger for your community was the outbreak that happened following the revival,” he noted.
“We’re having transmission in all the (health district’s) counties. Pickens County used to have a lot less than Gilmer, but it’s picking up now. Fannin is picking up. You go over to Murray and Whitfield and we have a lot of transmission in those communities. Cherokee County has a lot of cases, but they also have a very large population,” Taylor added.
Coronavirus testing is available in Ellijay from 9 a.m.-noon Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the ETC Pavilion. Tests are also given in Jasper from 9 a.m.-noon Wednesday and Thursday and in Blue Ridge from 8-9 a.m. Monday-Thursday, according to the health district’s updated testing schedule for the week of July 27.
King said 536 tests were administered in Gilmer from July 20-27.
A complete weekly COVID-19 testing schedule for the North Georgia Health District can be found online at NGHD.org. The number to call to make an appointment for testing is 1-888-881-1474.