COVID Vaccination Sites Listed; Schools Report COVID Statistics
In an effort to promote COVID-19 vaccinations for state employees, Governor Brian Kemp announced that next Friday, September 3, will be a state holiday. It is his hope that this will incentivize those current state employees who are unvaccinated to take the time to go get their COVID-19 vaccinations.
All health department sites in the Southeast Health District, which serves Toombs County, will stay open on this day to vaccinate anyone who is interested in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Traditional health department services will not be provided on this date. The COVID-19 vaccines are provided on a walk-in basis and do not require an appointment. For more information or to find a vaccination site, visit dph.ga.gov/ covid-vaccine. The South Central Health District, which is based in Dublin and which serves Montgomery, Treutlen and Wheeler counties, has announced schedules for vaccinations.
For Montgomery County, vaccines may be done by appointment during normal health department hours on Tuesday and Wednesday. The same is true for Wheeler County, but the scheduled days are Monday and Wednesday. Likewise, Treutlen County offers vaccinations by appointment on Monday and Thursday. The hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The vaccine clinic in McRae will be Friday at the Piggly Wiggly from 9 a.m. until noon. Dublin will host a clinic on the same day and time at the Lauren’s County Tag Office.
Testing is available Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the Fairview Park Hospital Campus of the DPH. Testing will be available on Labor Day.
The South Central Health District is not offering any vaccination clinics on Labor Day because of hosting two walk-up clinics on Friday; however, testing will be offered on Labor Day.
School Updates
Toombs County Schools reports 90 students are absent because of testing positive for COVID, which makes up 3% of the student body. The school also reports 25 staff are currently absent because of having the illness, which makes up 5.9% of the staff population. The school system’s football program halted practices and the Friday night game against Tattnall County to try to slow down the spread of COVID. The administration shared that this halt would be temporary and for the public to refer to the school’s social media site for updates.
In the Vidalia City School System, Vidalia High School is currently the school with the most COVID-positive students in the system, with VHS 17 students absent due to COVID. The entire system has 38 students and 10 staff members who currently test positive for COVID.
Montgomery County Schools has 46 COVIDpositive students as well as 46 quarantined students— 15 of these quarantined students are from school exposure, while 31 of the quarantines occur because of exposure outside of school. The school system also reports 7 staff members are absent because of having COVID while three staff members are quarantined. Montgomery continues to attempt to slow the spread of the illness throughout school by deep cleaning all schools on Saturday. Vidalia Heritage Academy has 10 students and 2 staff members absent because of testing positive for COVID. Exposed individuals may still attend school according to VHA policy, but must wear a mask at all times, submit to two temperature checks, and exhibit no symptoms.
At Wheeler County Schools, where a mask mandate is in place for students and staff, only one student has tested positive for COVID and contact cannot be definitely traced to the school. But quarantines have grown immensely, presenting a challenge for keeping students current with their studies. To mitigate the situation, a virtual day of learning has been scheduled for Friday, September 3, said School Superintendent Suzanne Couey. All students will be given assignments and teachers will be available online to assist. “We are working hard to maintain a safe environment for our students and staff who want to continue in-person learning as long as possible,” Couey said.
