Mary Margaret Oliver
Email Newsletter
 
March 26, 2020
 
COVID UPDATE

Henry and I have moved my self-imposed quarantine to my cabin in Fannin County. It is beautiful, and I am enjoying the pictured cherry blossoms that were planted by former owner Lee May, the AJC Gardening Editor. 



I am very proud of the some 500+ Georgia cities taking the lead on shelter-in-place (SIP) orders and other appropriate measures. Yesterday the Fannin County city of Blue Ridge, ordered a local state of emergency that not only encourages citizens to SIP, but restricts the tourism economy so vital to this area. Among other things, property owners must cancel all vacation rentals and not take reservations for future rentals. You can imagine the significant impact this will have.

Governor Kemp

The Governor's LIVE Virtual Town Hall is tonight at 8 p.m. For more information on how and where to watch, visit  WSB 2 LINK. 

I encourage you to tune in with me. He and his office have asked legislators to submit questions. These are the first two questions I sent:
  1. Does he anticipate implementing a statewide stay at home order like other states? If so, when?
  2. How much will Georgia realize from the federal stimulus package?
In another move, Governor Kemp has extended school closures to April 26th, and he will determine by that date when to re-open schools.

Federal Stimulus Package

I have been on a conference call with DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond, DeKalb leadership, and the State House & Senate DeKalb Delegation to discuss how the Stimulus Package approved by the Senate in Washington DC could impact the county. I remain worried about the state's budget shortfalls and am trying to analyze how the stimulus package will help.

A few main points we know about the package right now:
  • $45 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund for the immediate needs of the state, local, tribal and territorial governments to protect citizens and help them respond and recover from the overwhelming effects of the coronavirus.
  • $30 billion for an Education Stabilization Fund for states, school districts, and institutions of higher education for costs related to the coronavirus.  
  • $4.3 billion, through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to support federal, state, and local public health agencies to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus.
To read more about what the Stimulus Package means for states, go to this LINK. After it passes in the House, it will go to President Trump for signature.

Hospitals:  

State of Georgia's COVID Hotline:  1-844-442-2681
Please remember to call hospitals before you go.

Emory University Hospital, Emory Decatur Hospital, Dekalb Medical Center, Emory University Midtown Hospital:
  • COVID-19 screening line: 404-712-6843.
  • Phone assessment will take place with nurse to determine next steps.
  • No doctor referral is needed.
  • Call if the following symptoms started within the past two weeks: cough, sore, threat, & fever.
Grady Hospital
  • 24/7 COVID-19 Public Health Hotline: 1-866-782-4584.
  • Patients experiencing symptoms or those who been exposed to someone with the virus may come in to be evaluated, but patients must seen a physician prior to arriving to Grady. This first appointment with a doctor does not need to take place at Grady. 
Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center 
  • COVID-19 information line: 402-265-4000. Press 1 to select first option.
  • Virtual consultation is available for a charge: www.wellstaron.org.
  • Does not offer testing.

Below are some quick links to assist with questions you may have:
 
What You Should Know  ( here )
Travel Information  ( here )
Preventing COVID-10 Spread in Communities  ( here )
Higher Risk & Special Populations  ( here )
Healthcare Professionals  (  here )
Resources for Healthcare Facilities  ( here )
Resources for Health Departments  ( here )
Laboratories  ( here )
Communication Resources  ( here )  

Stay safe and healthy at home

I have grown increasingly concerned with the "curve" at the national and state level, since I am not seeing the flattening we hope for. 

As many of you may know, 5 Georgia State Senators have tested positive with COVID-19, with 1 hospitalized for the severity of his symptoms. Two of my acquaintances have lost family members in the last week. My heart goes out to those of you who have experienced the illness yourself or the illness or loss of a friend or loved one. Thank you to those of you working in health care or other places where you are at risk. Please know I continue to do as much as possible in the ways I can to keep you apprised of developments and to keep your government meaningfully responding. 

On the lighter side, as we all fight "cabin fever," we asked in our last email what you binged during this time, and you answered! 
  • Indiana Jones
  • Self Made
  • Stranger Things
  • Brooklyn 99
  • Alias Grace
  • My Brilliant Friend
  • Schitt's Creek
  • Babylon Berlin
  • Hell on Wheels 
  • Last Tango in Halifax
  • AJ & the Queen
  • Blood
  • Derry Girls
  • Lucifer
  • What We Did on Our Holiday
Stay safe and keep in touch, everyone!
 

Mary Margaret

Law Office (404) 377-0485
Legislative Office (404) 656-0265
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