COVID-19 & Vaccination Update:
From the Desk of Mayor Mike Bodker
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Signs of Hope and Improvement!
It has been approximately eight months since we began sharing these updates to help share accurate tracking data information from national, state and county COVID-19 reporting sources. In that time we have seen Incidence Rates (rate of new diagnoses over a 14-day reporting period compared to the previous 14-day reporting period) rise and fall and I am pleased to report that today’s report shows one of the lowest Incidence Rates for the City of Johns Creek since our reporting began.
With an Incidence Rate of 57.4 as of the 5/7/21 Epidemiology Report from Fulton County Board of Health, Johns Creek continues to experience gradual decreases of the COVID-19 Incidence Rate over the last several reporting periods. In fact, Johns Creek continues to hold the lowest Incidence Rate of new diagnosis (57.4) in all Fulton County cities (Atlanta 141.2, Alpharetta 114.4, Sandy Springs 98.7, Roswell 79.6, and Milton 78.6).
The most recent reporting data for Johns Creek shows a 30.4 percent decrease in new diagnoses for the two week reporting period (4/17 to 4/30), when compared to the previous two weeks (4/3 to 4/16).
Last week Gov. Kemp lifted many of Georgia’s remaining coronavirus restrictions with an executive order which rolls back requirements related to restaurants practicing social distancing and it ended safety guidelines designed for gyms, movie theaters, barbershops and other close-contact businesses. The executive order also ends a requirement that workers at restaurants wear masks, and reduces restrictions for live performance events.
With the combination of an ease in coronavirus restrictions and a slowdown of overall vaccine distribution, we cannot let our guard down too much. Please be safe and also respects others around you as many people have varying levels of comfort and concerns when it comes to coronavirus transmission and safety. And let’s continue to socially distance, avoid crowds (especially indoors), wear a mask when indoors and wash your hands.
Vaccination Rates Are Increasing
More than one-third of all Fulton County residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine and more than thirty percent of the county has been fully vaccinated. And according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 152 million people in the US have received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine, an important milestone for a nation that has suffered the world’s highest death toll due to the pandemic. Lastly, about 114 million adults have been fully vaccinated, meaning they completed vaccine regimens requiring two doses or received a single-dose vaccine.
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All Georgians age 16 and over are eligible to receive the vaccine. And there are a number of ways you and your family members can sign up to get the vaccine. COVID-19 vaccines can protect you and your family. The vaccines are safe and offered at no charge.
Walk-up Vaccine Times and Locations
- 4700 North Point Parkway, Alpharetta. Walk-Up Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. (500 walk-ups per day)
- Georgia International Convention Center, 2000 Convention Center Concourse, College Park, GA 30337. Walk-Up Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. (500 walk-ups per day)
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium Community Vaccination Center, Gate 2 (free parking in Silver, Orange, Red lots)
- Hours for May 10 - 15
- Monday, May 10, 2 p.m. – 10 p.m.
- Tuesday, May 11 – 9:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, May 12, 9:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.
- Thursday, May 13, 9:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
- Friday, May 14, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Saturday, May 15 - CLOSED
Mobile Vaccination Units
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Before you go to any vaccination site, please be sure to check and see if an appointment is required. Certain sites do not permit a vaccine distribution without an appointment.
Residents over age 65 and those who do not have Internet access may call the 404-613-8150 from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on weekdays for more information about the vaccine. Call volume is high at peak times. If you are not able to get through, please try again later.
All individuals who are in need of second dose appointments will be contacted directly to schedule those appointments.
VACCINE LOCATOR:
The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is coordinating vaccine distributions to locations throughout Georgia. As part of this effort, the DPH has developed a "Vaccine Locator" tool where citizens can type in the name of a city or facility to see a filtered list of vaccination sites. For a specific look at vaccination sites in Johns Creek, please visit the city data hub at: https://datahub.johnscreekga.gov/pages/covid-vaccine
OTHER VACCINE PROVIDERS
MORE QUESTIONS?
Call the Fulton County Board of Health COVID-19 hotline at 404-613-8150. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays or the Georgia Department of Public Health COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline at (888) 357-0169.
Even after receiving the vaccine, it is important to continue to wearing masks, practicing social distancing, and washing hands frequently.
Continue Making Healthy Decisions!
As the chart indicates, there was a beneficial decrease in case counts in Johns Creek in the recent two week reporting period (4/17 to 4/30), when compared to the previous two weeks (4/3 to 4/16). Overall, Johns Creek has the lowest Incidence Rate of any city in Fulton County for the recent two week reporting period, but please remember that continued low rates and declines of COVID incidents are more beneficial for our community’s health. Remember, even after receiving the vaccine, it is important to continue stay cautious.
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According to state and local health agencies and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, because of high COVID-19 transmission in Fulton County, unvaccinated people are at a high risk. Vaccinated people are at lower risk. Cases have decreased over the past week but are still high. The numbers of hospitalized COVID patients and deaths in the Fulton County area have also fallen. The test positivity rate in Fulton County is relatively low, suggesting that testing capacity is adequate for evaluating COVID-19 spread in the area. |
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In Johns Creek there were 21 fewer new diagnoses between the most recent 14 days (4/17 to 4/30) preceding the most recent 7 days and the 14 days preceding that (4/3 to 4/16), which represents a 30.4 percent decrease over the period. |
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Even with improved results, Fulton County remains at a high risk level for Covid-19 infections and the average number of new cases in Fulton County fell to 110 yesterday, a 9 percent decrease from the day before. Since January of last year, at least 1 in 11 people who live in Fulton County have been infected, and at least 1 in 769 have died.
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TESTING INFORMATION: If you believe you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, please take the initiative to get tested. You may schedule a free COVID-19 test regardless of symptoms at covid19.dph.ga.gov and for appointments by phone call 404-613-8150. However it is quicker to schedule an appointment online due to the volume of calls. Calls are accepted during these times: 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. on weekdays and 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Saturdays. Testing site locations, dates, and/or times are subject to change. For the latest information on testing, please visit: https://www.fultoncountyga.gov/covid-19/covid-testing-sites
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at
Please follow CDC guidelines and let’s CONTINUE to reduce our numbers.
Stay safe,
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Mike Bodker
Mayor, City of Johns Creek
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