Public Health urges action as Cobb's COVID levels move to 'high'

July 5, 2022 - Cobb & Douglas Public Health urges the citizens of both Cobb and Douglas Counties to take the necessary prevention steps to protect themselves and others from COVID-19, as the current community level for both counties has now increased to the High category.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) recommended actions based on the High level are to:

• Wear a mask indoors in public
• Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines
• Get tested if you have symptoms
• Additional precautions may be needed for people at high risk for severe illness

How are COVID-19 Community Levels calculated?
COVID-19 Community Levels are a new tool to help communities decide what prevention steps to take based on the latest data. Levels can be low, medium, or high and are determined by looking at hospital beds being used, hospital admissions, and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area.

Know Your Community Level:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/community-levels.html

MASK MANDATE RETURNS TO COURT COMPLEX
Cobb County Superior Court Chief Judge Robert Leonard reinstituted the mask mandate in the Cobb County courthouse complex after learning community transmission levels in Cobb returned to the "high" level. Masks will be required in all public areas of the courthouses and social distancing measures in courtrooms and elsewhere are in place. The CDC's latest report on community levels triggers an order Judge Leonard had previously issued.

The Chief Judge urged court administrators to look at upcoming jury trials and make sure they comply with the local judicial order on conducting trials during the pandemic.

No operational changes have been made at other county governmental facilities at this time.