The NGHS received nearly 5,000 doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine on December 17 and vaccinated approximately 2,000 frontline workers over the past week, the health system reported on Thursday. The system also received about 1,500 doses of the Moderna vaccine on Thursday, December 23, and more shipments are expected in early January.
“It is important to remember that vaccination is not a magical solution that will end the pandemic immediately,” said Dr. Supriya Mannepalli, medical director of infectious disease medicine at the NGMC. “People are tired of hearing this, but the best way to protect yourself, the people you love and your community this holiday season is to not visit family and friends outside your home, or take precautions if you do.”
The Georgia Department of Public Health is also sounding alarms and identifying Hall County as a hot spot.
According to DPH’s Wednesday data, Hall County recorded more COVID-19 activity than any other county outside the metropolitan Atlanta area.
The report shows that Hall County ranks 4th in the state in confirmed cases per 100,000 inhabitants, with 7,847; No. 5 in the state in cases confirmed in 16,193; No. 5 in the state in hospitalizations for the virus in 1,526; and No. 9 in the state in confirmed deaths in 210.
Gwinnett, Forsyth, Barrow, Habersham and others nearby appear in the top 30 in the same categories.
“It is clear that Hall and neighboring counties were hit particularly hard during the pandemic,” said Richard Higgins, chairman of Hall County Commissioners Council. “There are a variety of factors at play, but one common factor that we can all control is the personal steps we take: wear a mask, wash your hands and observe our distance.”
Kit Dunlap, president of the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce, agreed, saying the continuation of local business and school operations depends on how the community responds and works to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“Taking small, inconvenient steps now, like not having big holiday meetings, will help our community avoid bigger and more difficult steps in the future – like rationing care,” said Dunlap. “Please, celebrate safely.”
For holiday safety tips, vaccine information and other COVID-19 resources, visit nghs.com/COVID.