COVID-19 State Of Emergency Declared In Cobb County

COBB COUNTY, GA — Cobb County has declared a state of emergency due to a "dramatic increase" in hospitalizations, "critically low" critical care beds available in local hospitals, increasing COVID-19 cases and "low vaccination rates compared to other parts of the country."

This is according to the declaration of emergency order signed Thursday night by Cobb Board of Commissioners Chair Lisa Cupid. The order comes as communities across the country are experiencing rising COVID-19 cases, which some public health experts attribute to the more-transmissible delta variant and low vaccination rates.

In Cobb County, there have been 651 new positive COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents in the last two weeks alone, according to Cobb & Douglas Public Health data. More than 100 cases per 100,000 residents is considered high community transmission.

In terms of vaccinations, 56 percent of Cobb County residents have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 49 percent are fully vaccinated, Georgia Department of Public Health data shows.

The rising cases and low vaccination rates have put a strain on local hospitals, including Wellstar Cobb and Kennestone. Hospital staff had to turn ambulances away due to overcrowding earlier this week, and the emergency department is still considered "severely overcrowded" as of Thursday morning, according to the Georgia Coordinating Center.

“Public health officials are urging us to do whatever we can to encourage people to get the COVID vaccine and wear masks while near other people,” Cupid said. “This declaration will open the doors to provide assistance to others in the county who need it and highlight the critical stress this surge has put on our local healthcare facilities.”

Some county leaders and stakeholders — including Cobb Sheriff Craig Owens, Cobb District Attorney Flynn Broady, state Rep. Erick Allen, Strand Theatre General Manager Andy Gaines and CDPH Director Dr. Janet Memark — gathered to put out a video plea to residents and message of support to Cupid, urging residents to get vaccinated and wear a mask.

Masks are required in Cobb County public buildings starting Friday.

"Right now, our hospitals are very full, and staffing is very low. They need help, so let us all pitch in together," Memark said in the video, which can be viewed here. "Please get vaccinated and wear your mask indoors as we fight this."

Declaring and signing a state of emergency activates the county's Emergency Operations Plan, which allows resources to be directed to local hospitals, state agencies or others that may have a critical need for equipment and supplies, according to county officials.

The county's EMA used federal assistance money to stockpile supplies that would be needed should the pandemic persist, a county news release said. Requests for equipment and assistance have already come in as of Thursday.

The declaration of emergency expires Sept. 17, unless extended, amended or rescinded.

Related:

• Ambulances Turned Away At Wellstar Cobb, Kennestone Hospitals
• Mask Mandate To Return In Cobb County Public Buildings