COVID-19 State Of Emergency Extended In Cobb For 2nd Time

COBB COUNTY, GA — Cobb County's high case rate resulted in a second extension of the county's COVID-19 state of emergency, Cobb Board of Commissioners Chair Lisa Cupid said.

Cupid first signed the emergency declaration Aug. 20 due to rising hospitalizations and critically-low supply of critical care beds in local hospitals, as well as increasing COVID-19 cases and "low vaccination rates compared to other parts of the country," the original order reads. It would have expired Sept. 17, but she extended the state of emergency until Oct. 17.

An emergency declaration allows upcoming public meetings to be held virtually, keeps the county's emergency operations plan in place and continues to encourage residents to take precautions in public, according to a news release. This second extension runs through Nov. 16, unless extended for a third time.

“Even though we’ve heard positive news from our public health partners on the downward trend of this latest surge in COVID cases, the county’s case rate remains more than three times what is considered ‘high community transmission,’” Cupid said. “Keeping this order in place will allow us to remain proactive and hopefully help end this latest surge.”

"High community transmission" is considered as anything more than 100 cases per 100,000 county residents, according to Cobb and Douglas Public Health. Cobb's 14-day case rate per 100,000 residents is 311 cases as of Thursday.

The extension also cites the “severe overcrowding” condition at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital caused by COVID-19 cases and continues the terms of prior declarations.

Related:

• COVID-19 State Of Emergency Declared In Cobb County
• Cobb Extends COVID-19 State Of Emergency