Assistance available for employees negatively impacted by COVID-19

STAFF REPORT ::: Governor Brian Kemp and the Georgia Department of Labor (GDoL) are addressing an increase in the number of partial claims filed as a result of businesses reducing work hours or temporarily closing their doors in light of recent developments regarding COVID-19. “We are laser-focused on assisting the hardworking Georgians who have been […]

Kemp signs amended budget with $100 million in emergency COVID-19 funding

STAFF REPORT ::: Governor Brian Kemp has signed an amended fiscal year 2020 budget that includes $100 million in emergency funding to address the spread of novel coronavirus and COVID-19. “Over several months, I have worked closely with lawmakers to develop an amended fiscal year 2020 budget that reflects our priorities, reduces red tape in […]

There is no Spalding County COVID-19 case: DPH epidemiologist

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: According to Dr. Ashton Harris, an epidemiologist with the Georgia Department of Public Health, there is no confirmed case of COVID-19 in Spalding County. The GRIP sought and obtained this confirmation Tuesday morning. However, there is now one confirmed case in Lamar County, bringing the total for District 4, which includes […]

Spalding Tax Commissioner’s Office will be closed beginning March 17

STAFF REPORT ::: The Spalding County Tax Commissioner’s Office will be closed to the public from Tuesday, March 17 through Friday, March 20. Tax Commissioner Sylvia Hollums said this decision is a precautionary measure to guard against the coronavirus COVID-19. A drop box will be located in the courthouse lobby for property tax and tag […]

Governor signs executive order closing all public schools through March 31

STAFF REPORTS ::: Governor Brian Kemp has ordered closed all Georgia public elementary, secondary and post-secondary public schools from March 18 through March 30. “To keep our students, teachers and administrators safe and mitigate the spread of COVID-19, I am ordering the closure of all public elementary, secondary and post-secondary schools in Georgia from March […]

Sheriff’s Office announces temporary changes to response procedures

STAFF REPORT ::: Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix has announced temporary changes to responses to some non-emergency calls, calls for crimes that are not in progress or have already occurred and civil matters. The temporary changes are being made in what was said to be “an ongoing effort to safeguard the health and wellbeing of […]

City of Griffin issues response to COVID-19

STAFF REPORT ::: The city of Griffin has issued a press release regarding its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is posted below in its entirety: As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve on an hourly and daily basis, the City of Griffin is committed to continuing to provide our citizens, visitors and staff with […]

Public health state of emergency declared as state’s COVID-19 case count reaches 64

STAFF REPORT ::: Governor Brian Kemp on Saturday signed a public health state of emergency regarding COVID-19, followed by an address to Georgia residents. Kemp’s speech follows in its entirety: “My fellow Georgians: Over the past few weeks, our state has been facing an unprecedented public health threat with the spread of novel coronavirus. In […]

Governor Kemp to declare Georgia’s first ever public health emergency

STAFF REPORT ::: Governor Brian Kemp has announced his intention to declare a public health emergency beginning Saturday morning. In a statement released Friday afternoon, Kemp stated, “Based on President Trump’s emergency declaration, I will declare a public health emergency for the state of Georgia beginning tomorrow morning. This declaration will greatly assist health and […]

Governor: COVID-19 quarantine facility under construction in Monroe County

STAFF REPORT ::: Governor Brian Kemp and the Georgia Department of Public Health have announced that a COVID-19 quarantine facility is under construction on the Georgia Public Safety Training Center campus in Monroe County. Officials say this area is for persons who test positive for COVID-19 and are unable to self-isolate. This quarantine facility will […]

Fayette County COVID-19 case count now at five

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: There are now six confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the 12-counties served by District 4 of the Georgia Department of Public Health. Those six cases include five in Fayette County and one in Coweta County. The District 4 region includes Butts, Carroll, Coweta, Fayette, Heard, Henry, Lamar, Meriwether, Pike, Spalding, Troup […]

WellStar Spalding remains open with screening of all visitors for COVID-19 symptoms

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: WellStar Spalding Regional Hospital is implementing changes in response to concerns regarding COVID-19. All WellStar facilities are open and continue to operate under normal business hours. The measures now being taken are in an “abundance of caution.” They include the assembly of a team of infectious disease and infection prevention specialists […]

NASCAR announces two upcoming races will be held without fans in attendance

STAFF REPORT ::: Officials with NASCAR have announced that upcoming races at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway will be held without fans in attendance. “At this time, NASCAR will hold its race events at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway without fans in attendance. These events will be restricted to competitors, crews, officials and […]

Officials confirm first Georgia COVID-19 death; urge at-risk groups to prepare

STAFF REPORT ::: Officials have confirmed the first COVID-19 death in Georgia. According to a press release from the office of Governor Brian Kemp, the individual was a 67-year-old man who had been hospitalized in WellStar Kennestone Hospital since testing positive on March 7. In addition to the COVID-19 strain of coronavirus, the patient also […]

Georgia reports 31 confirmed, presumed positive COVID-19 cases in 12 counties

STAFF REPORT ::: There are now 31 confirmed and presumed positive cases of COVID-19 in 12 Georgia counties. The Georgia Department of Public Health is awaiting confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on three new presumed positive cases including two Dekalb County residents and one Lowndes County resident. All three are hospitalized […]