March 1, 2021
COVID-19 & Vaccination Update:
From the Desk of Mayor Mike Bodker
Keep Up the Great Work Johns Creek!

Our hard work is only just beginning to pay off! We need to continue to promote the decline in the overall Incidence Rate in Johns Creek.

Over the past 14-day reporting period, Johns Creek has seen a 49.9% decrease in transmission rates of COVID-19 in Johns Creek as well as an overall decrease in Fulton County. The Incidence Rate levels are now back down to where we were in mid-November, but that was just before a tremendous spike going into December and January as we did not prove to be vigilant enough with social distancing, small to no gatherings, and wearing a mask when in public.
 
The important next step is getting our community vaccinated.
Governor Brian Kemp announced last week that Georgia is expanding access to the COVID-19 vaccine and is now including educators and school staff as eligible to be vaccinated beginning March 8, 2021. That now includes: Pre-K thru 12 Educators & Staff; Adults with Intellectual & Development Disabilities & their Caregivers; Parents of Children with Complex Medical Conditions.

Fulton County Board of Health is using the new statewide Vaccine Registration and Administration Solution (VRAS) appointment scheduling system as directed by the Georgia Department of Health. Those that are eligible may visit https://myvaccinegeorgia.com/ to pre-register for the COVID -19 vaccine.

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. The DPH asks residents to NOT report to the vaccine site without an appointment. No vaccines will be given 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. The DPH asks residents to NOT report to the vaccine site without an appointment. No vaccines will be given without an appointment.

All individuals who are in need of second dose appointments will be contacted directly to schedule those appointments.

Please note that vaccine supplies are still extremely limited. In coming months, when greater quantities of the vaccine become available, it will be available to more people. In time, everyone who wants to the vaccine will be able to get it. 

At this time, the following are eligible to receive vaccines:
  • Individuals 65 Years of Age and Older and Their Caregivers
  • Healthcare Personnel and Long-Term Care Facility Residence & Staff
  • Law Enforcement, Fire, EMS Personnel & 9-1-1 Operators
  • Pre-K thru 12 Educators & Staff; Adults with Intellectual & Development Disabilities & their Caregivers; Parents of Children with Complex Medical Conditions

Hi 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. The City of Johns Creek has used this data to display a map which shows all of the locations within the DPH’s Vaccine Locator tool as points on a map so the public can more easily find their nearest vaccination site. You can access the tool at: https://datahub.johnscreekga.gov/pages/covid-vaccine
 
Please note that none of these sites are managed by the City of Johns Creek. In order to get vaccinated, you will need to contact one of the locations in the map or contact your doctor.

For additional information on the COVID-19 vaccine, please visit the Fulton County Board of Health COVID-19 vaccine page:

OTHER VACCINE PROVIDERS
In addition to Fulton County, private pharmacies and health providers also offer the COVID-19 vaccine. To view a list of other vaccine providers, please visit:  https://dph.georgia.gov/locations/covid-vaccination-site

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.
In the recent two week reporting period (2/6 to 2/19), there were fewer new cases of COVID-19 in Fulton County than the previous two weeks (1/23 to 2/5).
 
According to additional data sources including state and local health agencies and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, cases in Fulton County are very high but have decreased over the past two weeks. The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients has also fallen in the Fulton County area, but I.C.U. occupancy is still very high. Deaths have remained at about the same level. The test positivity rate in Fulton County is high, suggesting that cases may be undercounted.
The recent decrease in new diagnoses is positive news but we need to be careful.  There were 171 fewer new diagnoses between the most recent 14 days (2/6 to 2/19) preceding the most recent 7 days and the 14 days preceding that (1/23 to 2/5).
An average of 266 cases per day were reported in Fulton County, a 18 percent decrease from the average two weeks ago. Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 1 in 12 residents have been infected, a total of 85,771 reported cases. Jan. 2021 was the worst month for cases in Fulton County.

In Georgia, there were 2,161 new cases reported on Feb. 28. Over the past week, there has been an average of 3,021 cases per day, a decrease of 10 percent from the average two weeks earlier. As of today, there have been at least 981,844 cases and 16,757 deaths in Georgia since the beginning of the pandemic.
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,
Mike Bodker
Mayor, City of Johns Creek