Hello Johns Creek,
Season’s Greetings Johns Creek –
As we enter the holiday season, I hope that each resident takes a moment to understand what needs to be done to be safe and stay healthy. Our Johns Creek community continues to see a dramatic rise in COVID-19 case counts and the diagnosis rate keeps climbing. Please take the critical efforts and actions to stop the spread of this infectious and dangerous virus.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention late last week stated that “…COVID-19 cases and deaths are rising across the United States. The changes we have had to make to routines and daily life are extremely hard, but these changes are even more important now and in the future. The more steps you and your family can take to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the safer you will be.”
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
We have collected important data from the health experts at the Fulton County Board of Health, The Georgia Department of Public Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding the spread of the virus with the region and in the city. Over the past several weeks the data has been tracking in a manner which is not positive and, as infection rates rise, we must take precautionary steps to make a change. I implore you to please continue to do everything we can to decrease the chances of getting or spreading COVID-19 or the flu. Adhering to guidelines and information from trusted sources is important as our community works to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
The CDC is also helping to prioritize the safe and critical distribution of vaccines which have received approvals under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Many other vaccines are still being developed and tested. Now that there are authorized and recommended vaccines to prevent COVID-19 in the United States, there are 8 things you need to know about the new COVID-19 Vaccination Program and COVID-19 vaccines. For more information on the 8 things you need to know about the new COVID-19 Vaccination Program and COVID-19 vaccines please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/8-things.html
What You Need to Know about the U.S. COVID-19 Vaccination Program
You need 2 doses of the currently available COVID-19 vaccine. A second shot 3 weeks after your first shot is needed to get the most protection the vaccine has to offer. Because the current supply of COVID-19 vaccine in the United States is limited, CDC recommends that initial supplies of COVID-19 vaccine be offered to healthcare personnel and long-term care facility residents. The goal is for everyone to be able to easily get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as large enough quantities are available. Once vaccine is widely available, the plan is to have several thousand vaccination providers offering COVID-19 vaccines in doctors’ offices, retail pharmacies, hospitals, and federally qualified health centers. Vaccine doses purchased with U.S. taxpayer dollars will be given to the American people at no cost.
This positive news should not take away from the fact that cases continue to increase rapidly across the United States. Please understand the importance of wearing a mask, limiting your exposure to enclosed indoor areas, and practicing social distancing. Each and every member of our city and community must do what we can to address the spread of this infection.
In the past two weeks (reporting weeks of 11/28 to 12/11) there were more than 5,266 new cases of COVID-19 in Fulton County.
In that same period, there were 455 new cases in the City of Johns Creek, which represents a 90.4 % increase in new diagnoses.
Johns Creek is no longer the outlier in north Fulton County in terms of case counts. The latest report shows new diagnoses in Johns Creek over the past 14-day reporting period trail only those of Atlanta (2,039) Sandy Springs (634). Being rated third in the entire county in new cases does not indicate that we are doing the proper things to decrease the spread of the virus.
