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National and State Update

Ben Moser gave the following updates for Day 18 of the National Emergency from national, state and local news sources:

• The President extends social distancing measures until at least April 30, 2020
• Nationwide deaths approach 2,500 with more than 1,000 of those in New York
• Spain has asked residents to go into hibernation as the death tolls climbs
• Dr. Anthony Fauci estimates that the United States could see millions of cases and over 100,000 deaths
• First federal airlift touched down in the New York tri-state area to deliver much need medical supplies
• Flight from Shanghai landed at JFK airport with supplies mostly for New York, New Jersey and Connecticut; 20 more flights are planned through early April
• Los Angeles County had five more deaths and total cases are up to 2,100
• China returns to work after months of dealing with the virus
• New starting date for the Olympics is July 2021
• Georgia Governor Kemp announced that President Trump has declared a major disaster for the state of Georgia includes all 159 counties
• Alabama Governor Ivey thanked Apple CEO for donating 65,000 N95 masks to Alabama

Columbus Area Updates

Department of Public Health (Columbus Health Department)Update-Natalie Mann

Natalie gave the following updates:

• There are nine cases in Muscogee County
• Half of the 16 counties in the health district have positive cases
• The total number of tests showing on the website is the total number of tests administered

Columbus Consolidated Government Update-Mayor Skip Henderson

Mayor Henderson gave the following updates:

• He is out of quarantine; the person that he came in contact with two weeks ago has tested negative
• The deadline for the city order is coming up; extend to mirror national timeline; continue to tweak
• He is thankful that the majority of the community and businesses are taking this seriously and doing what they can; he rode by stores and businesses this weekend
• If you see someone especially businesses doing the right thing thank them; if you see someone doing the wrong thing urge them to rethink their position

Muscogee County School District Update-Dr. David Lewis

Dr. Lewis gave the following updates:

• Muscogee County School District is on Spring Break this week
• Thankful to the community partners who were able to continue the feeding program during Spring Break
• Meals from the school district and distance learning will resume next week after Spring Break
• Restart school date of April 27, 2020 conflicts with President’s Trump date of April 30, 2020; await guidance from Governor Kemp

Alabama State Representative Update Chris Blackshear

Representative Blackshear gave the following updates:

• Conference call updates with Governor Ivey later this morning
• Eight hundred thirty cases in Alabama
• Fifty-seven cases in Lee County and one in Russell County
• Six thousand, five hundred, thirty-one total people tested
• Twenty counties with testing sites
• Six deaths reported through the Alabama Department of Public Health
• The coroner of Lee County has reported six deaths just at the East Alabama Medical Center alone; dire situation at East Alabama Medical Center

Piedmont Columbus Regional Update-Joel Ames

Joel gave the following updates:

• Piedmont is following new guidelines about release of information concerning the coronavirus
• They will be depending on the Georgia Department of Public Health to be the sole provider of information concerning coronavirus patients

Columbus Area Vulnerable Population Update

Home for Good Update-Pat Frey

In Pat’s absence, Ben gave the following updates:

Area service providers continue to work together to meet the needs of our vulnerable population by:

• Providing shelter for those seeking shelter, access to sanitation and hygiene, and access to food
• Communicating signs and symptoms, access to screening and messaging on availability of resources and services

Crisis Fund Update-Betsy Covington

Betsy gave the following updates:

• Reminded callers of the match offer from TSYS
• Guidelines are up and they are looking at needs in the community
• Seeing impact from economic standpoint
• Share information about the fund with others. CFCV.com/coronavirus
• Reminded front line organizations to share their needs

Open Forum Updates

MercyMed Update-Billy Holbrook

Billy gave the following updates:

• They will host another Zoom call in Spanish on Wednesday, April 1, 2020 at 3:00pm. MercyMed doctors will discuss the coronavirus

St Francis Hospital Update-Melody Trimble

Melody gave the following updates:

• Thanked the entire community for their support and collaboration
• St. Francis is there if they are needed; they have the capacity to help

Feeding the Valley Update-Frank Sheppard

Frank gave the following updates:

• First meals for Muscogee County children will be delivered today
• Expect to deliver 9,000 meals this week
• Thanked partners and his staff

211 Update-Candace Muncy

Candace gave the following updates:

• Calls continue to come in; the top needs are food, hygiene products and rental assistance

• Calls continue to come in; the top needs are food, hygiene products and rental assistance