NGHS received nearly 5,000 doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine on December 17 and has vaccinated approx. 2,000 frontline workers over the past week, the health system reported Thursday. The system also received about 1,500 doses of the Moderna vaccine on Thursday, December 23, and more shipments are expected in early January.
“It is important to remember that vaccination is not a magic bullet that immediately ends the pandemic,” said Dr. Supriya Mannepalli, NGMC Medical Director of Infectious Disease Medicine. “People are tired of hearing this, but the best way to protect yourself, the people you love and your community during this holiday season is not to visit family and friends outside your household or take precautions if you do. “
Georgia’s Department of Public Health is also sending alarms and identifying Hall County as a hotspot.
According to data from DPH on Wednesday, Hall County has seen more COVID-19 activity than any county in the state outside the Atlanta area.
The report shows Hall County ranks No. 4 in the state in confirmed cases per. 100,000 inhabitants of 7,847; Nr. 5 in the state in confirmed cases at. 16,193; Nr. 5 in the state at hospital admissions for the virus at 1,526; and No. 9 in the state in confirmed deaths at 210.
Gwinnett, Forsyth, Barrow, Habersham and others nearby appear in the top 30 in the same categories.
“Clearly, Hall and the surrounding counties have been hit particularly hard during the pandemic,” said Richard Higgins, chairman of Hall County. “There are a number of different factors, but a common factor that we can all control is the personal steps we take: wearing a mask, washing our hands and watching our distance.”
Kit Dunlap, president of the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce, agreed, saying the continuation of local business and school operations depends on how the community responds and works to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“Taking small, inconvenient steps now, such as not having large holiday collections, will help our community avoid bigger and more difficult steps in the future – such as. Rationing of care, ”said Dunlap. “Please celebrate for sure.”
For new safety tips, vaccine information and other COVID-19 resources, visit nghs.com/COVID.