County Sets Up Vaccine Call Center
By REBECCA HAZEN
News Editor
County Executive Ted Rumley noted that Dade, Walker and Catoosa counties have been having issues with calling in to schedule COVID-19 vaccination appointments, during the weekly county update on Thursday, Jan. 21.
According to Rumley, Walker County is setting up a call center that will have about 20 stations to help them with their call volume.
In Dade County, there is now a small call center set up in place to help answer the phones.
“We are trying to help them because it is overwhelming. They have limited people working and they are doing all that they can,” Rumley said.
Rumley continued, “Bear with us. This is being handled.”
Public Information Officer Carey Anderson noted that many people have asked about the phases of vaccinations.
“These vaccinations are controlled at the state level. Governor Kemp has said that we will have phase one right now,” Anderson said.
The people who are eligible for vaccinations in phase one are: healthcare workers, physicians, nurses, laboratory technicians, EMS personnel, environmental services, residents and staff of long term care facilities, adults ages 65 and older and their care givers, law enforcement, fire fighters and first responders.
Currently only those 65 and older can get vaccinations. This is based on statistics from Johns Hopkins and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Statistics show that 80 percent of deaths from COVID-19 is for ages 65 and older.
Anderson also said that many people have reached out with questions pertaining to the new administration of President Joe Biden, and what they will be doing for COVID-19.
“We will be watching that so we can let you know how that will affect you here in Dade County,” Anderson said.
Anderson continued, “As we know, Governor of Georgia Governor Kemp has not made mask mandates up to this point. He has put out executive orders that we have shared with you. That comes from the state level. And then there is the federal level. Just be assured that we are watching that.”
Dade County has seen 75 cases in the past two weeks, for a total of 915 COVID-19 cases. The number of cases can be found at https://dph.georgia.gov/covid-19-daily-status-report.
Rumley also noted that the Sheriff’s Office lobby is still closed, and is expected to be closed for a while longer. The closure is COVID-19 related, but according to Rumley, new flooring is being replaced in the hallways of the Sheriff’s Office, as well as new paint.
Tire Amnesty Day is tentatively going to be Saturday, Feb. 27. The make-up day would be March 6.
To submit questions to be answered during the weekly county update, email info@dadecounty-ga.gov.