COVID-19 cases have risen rapidly in recent weeks and community transmission in Fulton County is at the highest level since the outset of the pandemic. I’ve included some of the staggering data below. The rise in cases is putting a strain on our health systems and has created much stress on schools as they seek to deliver in-person learning and balance health and safety concerns. Businesses are also struggling to manage their operations in a way that balances delivering services, keeping employees and customers safe, and finding and retaining adequate numbers of workers to run their businesses.

As the virus continues to have a heavy impact, two things are imminently clear:
1) Vaccines make a significant difference and are the most effective preventative measure available. This is evident when we look at the case data and the hospitalization data and see that across the country, 95-99% of cases and hospitalizations involve unvaccinated people.
2) As businesses, governments, schools and others seek to continue to operate and provide services, all are going to look at and consider the safety measures that they feel are most appropriate. This includes consideration of vaccine and/or testing requirements and indoor mask requirements. 

I specifically note vaccines. Fulton County government remains focused on getting vaccines out and has also built plans for delivering booster shots on a mass scale when the time for those occurs. Information on how you can obtain a vaccine or take someone to obtain a vaccine is included below.

Additionally, the demand for testing has increased dramatically.  I’ve included information on testing resources below as well.

While we all likely have COVID fatigue, the virus itself is as energized and as aggressive as it has ever been and requires us all to work together to contain, repress and ultimately defeat it. 

•  Fulton County has recorded  96,618 confirmed cases and 18,378 probable cases of COVID-19.
•  Fulton County has recorded 1,409 confirmed COVID-19 deaths.
• Of all PCR testing done in Fulton County between August 2 and August 15, the percent positivity rate was 12.8%.
• In the recent two week reporting period, there were more new cases of COVID-19 in Fulton County than the previous two weeks.

•  510,852 or 49.9% of Fulton County residents are fully vaccinated
• 583,083 or 57.1% of Fulton County residents have received at least one dose.
  Georgia has 42% of its population fully vaccinated.

• Fulton County Government Center,141 Pryor Street, Atlanta, Hours: Monday – Friday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• 4700 North Point Parkway, Alpharetta, Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• 5710 Stonewall Tell Rd, College Park (Building next to South Fulton Service Center), Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. 
• Neighborhood Union Health Center, 186 Sunset Avenue, Atlanta, Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
• College Park Regional Health Center, 1920 John Wesley Avenue, College Park, Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
• Board of Health, 10 Park Place, South SE, Atlanta, Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.