March 26, 2020: Coronavirus Community Call -

National and State Updates-Ben Moser

Ben gave the following updates for Day 14 of the National Emergency from the following media sources: The New York Times, CNN, The Wall Street Journal, The Miami Herald and The Los Angeles Times:

Senate approves a bill that promises a $1,200 payout to millions of Americans, increase jobless aide and creates a business bailout fund
The main provisions of the aid bill will be direct payments to individuals, historic boost for unemployment benefits, lending programs, support for airlines and airports, hospitals, and health and public safety
The bill will also include increased protection against evictions and foreclosures
Senate aid package is closer to $2.2 trillion
Biggest stimulus package in modern United States history
Miami hospitals going from competitive to cooperative; forming a coalition
3.3 million Americans filed for unemployment last week
Georgia Governor points to the city of Albany as making the case for social distancing. The Coronavirus has caused a full-blown health crisis in Albany, Georgia
Alabama experienced their first death in Jackson County on yesterday

Columbus Area Updates

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

Natalie gave the following updates:

They were 14 confirmed cases in our district on yesterday. As of this morning the number is 17; four in Muscogee County, six in Sumter, three in Crisp, one in Harris, one in Randolph, one in Macon and one in Taylor
Drive thru screenings continue at the Columbus Health Department, testing those that are symptomatic
Testing turnaround time is five to seven days

Muscogee County School District Update-Dr. David Lewis

Dr. Lewis gave the following updates:

Recent conference call with the Governor’s State Superintendent Advisory Council to discuss school closures
They hope to hear an announcement in the next day or so concerning school closures and/or reopening

Alabama State House Representative Update-Chris Blackshear

Representative Blackshear gave the following updates:

144 new cases in the last 24 hours; 386 cases as of end of day yesterday
Up to 40 cases in Lee County; growing hot spot
First confirmed case in Russell County
Unemployment claims are rising; 1,434 filed the week of March 13; 9,347 filed the week of March 20; 17,000 filed by March 23
Locally trying to gather test kits and other needs for health care providers

President and CEO, East Alabama Chamber of Commerce-Dennis Beson

Dennis gave the following updates:

Communicating with the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce as well as Ft. Benning on a regular basis about different ways to help; their goal is to help people find answers
Keeping people informed about small business loans; sba.gov, madeinalabama.com, madeinamerica.com, governor.alabama.gov
Betsy added that the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce also has resources on their website
Jennifer Lowman of the city of Phenix City added that there are also resources on their website

River Valley Regional Commission-Jim Livingston

Jim gave the following updates:

River Valley Regional Commission covers Georgia; same footprint as West Georgia Department of Public Health
Counterpart in Alabama is Lee Russell Counsel of Government
Challenges: serves some of the poorest counties in Georgia; rural hospitals and clinics
Programs: Area Agency on Aging; providing meals and other services for seniors
Intake process is important; they take referrals from 211 and service providers
Hotline number is 706-256-2900 or 800-615-4370 for seniors needing extra help during this crisis
Ben asked Jim to email him with information for United Way website and social media

Piedmont Columbus Regional Update-Joel Ames

Joel gave the following updates:

They are in active treatment operation for COVID-19 patient care. The preparations made over the last few weeks have allowed them to switch into that mode almost seamlessly
In house site collected 20 samples yesterday for testing
No visitor policy continues with a few exceptions and case by case basis
Continuing to screen employees and taking temperatures
Supplies are currently adequate and being managed
Patient capacity is adequate; plans for expansion if needed
Appreciate all the support from the community for their health care professionals

Columbus Parks and Recreation Updates-Holli Browder

Holli gave the following updates:

Senior centers are closed, and seniors are looking for something to do; they want to help so they are organizing a group to make facemask
They are looking for volunteers to make mask, organizations who need mask and elastic to make mask.
Anyone interested can contact: hbrowder@columbusga.org or https://www.facebook.com/Face-Mask-Sewing-for-Columbus-Georgia-104673267851037/

Home for Good and Vulnerable Population Update-Pat Frey

Pat gave the following updates:

Webinar on yesterday with the committees on the Governor’s task force
Committee Chair Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms reiterated the six items that were submitted to the Governor for approval. They are as follows:
Prevent Additional People from Becoming Homeless
Support Enhanced Cleaning, Screening and Referral
Expand Testing for High-Risk Individuals and Areas
Establish a Reporting Process Specific to Homeless and Displaced Persons
Ensure Appropriate Options for Quarantine and Isolation are Available
Ensure Transportation Options are Available

Governor Virtual Town Hall meeting tonight at 8:00pm
Other items on the call included: temporary licensing for nursing graduates, reinstatement of license for doctors, pharmacy doing 90 days refills for medications, GEMA activation of the national guard if needed and request for 20 million in medical supplies
Working on a reporting mechanism in our area

Crisis Fund Update-Betsy Covington

Betsy gave the following updates:

Reminded callers that the fund is housed at the Community Foundation, but it is in partnership with United Way
Global Payment/ TSYS has made a $100,000 matching gift to the fund; they will match individual gifts to the fund up to $2,000 for a total of $100,000; more information can be found at CFCV.com/coronavirus
Betsy asked callers to include the link to the fund on their Facebook pages and websites
Planning to make grants from the fund starting next week

Open Forum Updates

St Anne Community Outreach-Katie Byers

Katie gave the following updates:

Numbers for the food pantry have doubled; 100 cars in line this morning
Food distribution days will be Tuesday and Thursday
Asking families to remain in cars for social distancing
Clients can call 706-568-1592 for recorded instructions
Katie Howard of Area Agency on Aging asked f there were any provisions for clients who are homebound. Katie answered that there are often two or three families in a care as neighbors are providing transportation for each other

MercyMed Updates-Billy Holbrook

Billy gave the following updates:

Still open and still seeing patients. However, their volume has decreased; Switching a lot of patients over to telehealth appointments
Still getting referrals from the Department of Public Health for coronavirus testing
Their turnaround time for test results varies from three to eight days
Community Zoom call on yesterday with MercyMed doctors discussing the coronavirus. The call was recorded and is on their Facebook page.
Please let them know if they can be of assistance to people in need