District 5 Weekly Newsletter
March 19, 2021
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District 5 Family, Friends, and Neighbors:

I hope that you had a wonderful week. This week, we saw yet another senseless tragedy here in Georgia. I am deeply saddened to see yet another community torn apart because of senseless acts of hate and violence. Hank & I offer our sincere love & prayers for our Asian – American sisters & brothers. We must turn away from hate and towards love. It’s the only way to heal!

I want to invite you to join me next Sunday, personally, March 28th, at 3:00 pm for "A Salute To Women" as we recognize women who have made significant contributions to DeKalb County and the 5th Commission District. Our esteemed speaker is my good friend and CNN Political Contributor, Angela Rye. My other good friend and State Director for Senator Raphael Warnock, Meredith Lilly, will host the event. The event will be streamed live on DCTV Channel 23 and my Facebook page. For more information, please see the flyer below. 

Please remember as we work to slow the spread of COVID-19, don't forget to wear a mask, practice social distancing, and stay home when you are sick. Remember "Friends Don't Let Friends Go Out Without Wearing A Mask." For more information on how to slow the spread visit www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.

If you have any upcoming virtual events and want me or my staff to attend, please feel free to send us an invitation by clicking here. 

Have a great weekend!

Yours in service,

Mereda Davis Johnson
COVID - 19 Numbers in DeKalb
COVID-19 TESTING AVAILABLE
IN DEKALB COUNTY
The DeKalb County Board of Health is opening up COVID-19 testing services to a wider range of residents. If you are a DeKalb County resident and you feel you may have been exposed to COVID-19 call: 404.294.3700, OPTION 1
DeKalb County Board of Health Resumes Registration for COVID-19 Vaccine Phase 1A
The DeKalb County Board of Health is following the Georgia Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout Plan. 

The COVID-19 vaccine is in high demand and supply remains very limited. Vaccines will be given by appointment only based on vaccine availability. If there are no appointments available, that means we have exhausted our supply of the vaccine. We will not release additional appointments until we have received more doses of vaccine to ensure we can meet the demand. Everyone who desires the vaccine will ultimately be able to get it. However, until additional vaccine becomes available, we ask for the public’s patience and understanding during this process.

CURRENTLY, THE FOLLOWING GROUPS ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE COVID-19 VACCINE IN GEORGIA

  • Healthcare workers (physicians, nurses, laboratory technicians, emergency medical services workers, environmental services, etc.)
  • Residents and staff of long-term care facilities
  • Adults aged 55 and older
  • Law enforcement, firefighters, and first responders
  • Educators and staff (pre-K, K-12, and DECAL licensed or exempt childcare programs)
  • Funeral home workers who have direct contact with the deceased
  • Individuals with disabilities
  • Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their caregivers
  • An intellectual disability starts before the age of 22 and involves significant limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior (i.e. everyday social and practical skills).
  • A developmental disability is a physical or mental impairment that starts before the age of 22, is expected to last a lifetime, and affects at least 3 activities of daily living (self-care, receptive and expressive language, learning, mobility, self-direction, capacity for independent living, and economic self-sufficiency).


Note: Currently, children aged 16 and 17 may only receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine due to FDA approval.
John Lewis Commemorative Task Force
The John Lewis Commemorative Task Force was formed by a Joint Declaration of DeKalb County Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson and Decatur City Mayor Patti Garrett on April 21, 2020. The purpose of the Task Force is to identify the best and most appropriate manner in which to commemorate the late Congressman John Lewis in DeKalb County.

To stay up date on what is happening with the John Lewis Task Force, please visit our Facebook Page by clicking here
A Georgia city is replacing a Confederate monument with a statue of civil rights hero John Lewis
By Maria Morava & Saeed Ahmed
Georgia County To Replace Confederate Monument With John Lewis Statue
By Sara Boboltz, HUFF POST
Statue of John Lewis to replace Confederate obelisk in DeKalb
DeKalb Seeks Artists For John Lewis Memorial In Decatur Square
John Lewis memorial to replace Confederate monument in Georgia
Memorial to Civil Rights Icon John Lewis Will Replace Confederate Monument in Georgia

Isis Davis - Marks
John Lewis Memorial Will Replace a Confederate Monument in Atlanta

Virginia Chamlee
Memorial to Rep. John Lewis Will Replace a Confederate Monument at Georgia's DeKalb County Courthouse

Ishena Robinson
DeKalb County News & Highlights
DeKalb Voter Registration and Elections Announces Unofficial Results for Georgia House District 90 Runoff Election
DeKalb County Voter Registration and Elections (DeKalb VRE) has completed preliminary tabulations for the special election to fill the vacant Georgia House District 90 seat, previously held by long-time lawmaker Pamela Stephenson. The runoff election is between candidates Angela Moore and Stan Watson, who both received the highest number of votes during the Feb. 9 special election.
DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs Hosts Summer Food
Program
DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs will host the Summer Food Service Program from June 1-July 30. This ongoing effort ensures school children have nutritious meals during the summer and seeks participating program sites. READ MORE 
DeKalb Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs to Host Drive-thru Easter Egg & Scavenger Hunt Extravaganza
DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs will host its third Annual Easter Egg and Scavenger Hunt Extravaganza on April 3, from noon to 2 p.m. at Exchange Park, 2771 Columbia Drive, Decatur, GA 30034.READ MORE
DeKalb Parks to Participate in Atlanta Science Festival  
The DeKalb County Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs will participate virtually in the Atlanta Science Festival on March 13-27, 2021. DeKalb Park Ranger’s will offer a virtual ranger roundtable and two self-guided programs.
Commissioner Larry Johnson to Host Annual Community Cleanups
DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson will host his annual Spring community cleanups for the south DeKalb community beginning at 9:30 a.m. each Saturday starting March 27 through April 24.READ MORE
Upcoming Events & Notices
THERE IS A $125 PARTICIPATION STIPEND
A Moment of Inspiration with
Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson