Frequently Asked Questions About Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19):
Where can I find the most recent Georgia Department of Health updates on new COVID-19 cases in Georgia?
Georgia Department of Public Health :
How can I protect myself and my family?
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces with any disposable wipes.
If you have recently returned from a country with ongoing COVID-19 (coronavirus) infections, monitor your health and follow the instructions of public health officials
8. Resources for Home: Plan, prepare, and respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019
Link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/home/index.html
Link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/home/get-your-household-ready-for-COVID-19.html
Check-List to Get Your Home Ready
Link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/home/checklist-household-ready.html
Cleaning and Disinfecting Recommendations
Link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/home/cleaning-disinfection.html
If someone in your home is sick
Link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/guidance-prevent-spread.html
Do I need to wear a face mask?
The CDC recommends the use of simple cloth face coverings (link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face- cover.html) to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.
Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure.
The cloth face coverings recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators. Those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance.
If you’re sick with COVID-19, or being evaluated for COVID-19, you should wear a face mask when you are around other people to help prevent spreading the disease to others.
If you’re taking care of someone who has COVID-19, you should wear a face mask to protect yourself when you are in close contact with a person who is sick with COVID-19, or being evaluated for COVID-19. CDC information for household members and caregivers can be found here.
What can I do to prepare?
You can prepare for the possible disruption caused by an outbreak by doing the following:
Make sure you have a supply of all essential medications (e.g. prescriptions) for your family.
Make a child-care plan if you or a care giver are sick.
Get your flu shot.
Make arrangements for how your family will manage a school closure.
Make a plan for how you can care for a sick family member without getting sick yourself.
Create a Check-List to Get Your Home Ready
Link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/home/checklist-household-ready.html
Resources for Home: Plan, prepare, and respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019
Link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/home/index.html
Link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/summary.html
How Can I Get Tested for COVID-19?
For Residents: How to get tested for COVID-19
If you have symptoms of COVID-19 and want to get tested, call your state or local health department or a medical provider. While supplies of these tests are increasing, it may still be difficult to find a place to get tested.
Georgia Department of Health: 844-442-2681
Fulton County Board of Health: 404-613-8150
DeKalb County Board of Health : 404-294-3700, Press 1 for COVID-19 related matters. After hours, call 1-844-442-2681.
For Providers: How to request a test for your patient
The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) uses an new online testing request system to streamline COVID-19 testing. Due to testing capacity, DPH is only able to test patients meeting certain criteria. Testing for patients with mild respiratory illness should be performed through a commercial laboratory. https://dph.georgia.gov/covid-19-online-testing-request Link: http://www.anotherchancecsi.org/covid19-resource-list
Drive-Thru Testing
Federal and State officials have partnered with CVS Health to open a new rapid COVID-19 drive-thru testing center on the campus of Georgia Tech. Testing is offered at no-cost and administered by health care providers, including nurse practitioners and physician assistants from CVS MinuteClinic. The process will take approximately 30 minutes from specimen collection to delivery of results, and patients need to pre-register Link: https://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/covid-19-testing in advance for an appointment.
To learn more about test site locations, hours and registration requirements, please visit https://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/covid-19-testing Link: https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsable.madmimi.com%2Fc%2F226400%3Fid%3D759207.8797.1.32054d1d646e8c141beac4d14c44e64e&data=02%7C01%7CSHRugamba%40AtlantaGa.Gov%7C7a002f1152594cb7bc4a08d7da88a92d%7C031a550af1f34b629c643ef02c7798a5%7C0%7C0%7C637218152794168424&sdata=Hzw3kidMiYNLo%2BiEocG%2FxJZoUaNfL95gaBxW2N8ANWg%3D&reserved=0
Mental Health, Anxiety, and Coping During COVID-19
According to the CDC, the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be stressful for people and communities. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children.
Visit the CDC website Link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/coping.html to learn more about coping during COVID-19
Interim Guidance on COVID-19 Prevention
Overview of Preventing COVID-19 Spread in Communities
Resources for Home: Plan, prepare, and respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 Link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/home/index.html
Link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/home/get-your-household-ready-for-COVID-19.html
· Check-List to Get Your Home Ready
Link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/home/checklist-household-ready.html
· Cleaning and Disinfecting Recommendations
Link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/home/cleaning-disinfection.html
· If someone in your home is sick
Link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/guidance-prevent-spread.html
· Resources for K-12 Schools and Childcare Programs
Link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/index.html
· Resources for Colleges and Universities
Link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/colleges-universities.html
· Resources for Businesses and Employers
Link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/businesses-employers.html
· Resources for Communities Organizations
Link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/index.html
· Large Community Events and Mass Gatherings
Link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/large-events/index.html
· CDCs Fight Germs. Wash Your Hands!
Link: https://youtu.be/eZw4Ga3jg3E
· What You Need to Know About Handwashing
Link: https://youtu.be/d914EnpU4Fo
· American Health Insurance Plans’ website provides a great summary of coverage
Link: https://www.ahip.org/health-insurance-providers-respond-to-coronavirus-covid-19/
Resources from Local, State, and Federal Partners
· Georgia Department of Public Health Novel Coronavirus 2019 Page
Link: https://dph.georgia.gov/novelcoronavirus
· Fulton County Board of Health
Link: http://fultoncountyboh.org/boh/index.php/epidemiology-info/2019-ncov
· US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Novel Coronavirus 2019 Page
Link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/summary.html
· Frequently Asked Questions and Answers from CDC
Link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html
· Questions and Answers on Coronaviruses from the World Health Organization (WHO)
Link: https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses
Link: https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/eta/eta20200318
Food & Shelter
Below are organizations and places that may be able to help you find food and keep you in your home with your power on, water flowing and connected to the internet. For help with these things, you may also call United Way of Greater Atlanta’s Contact Center , (link: https://www.unitedwayatlanta.org/need-help/) which can connect you to the resources below and others at any time. Search their list of providers(link: http://211online.unitedwayatlanta.org/ ), email them(link: http://211online.unitedwayatlanta.org/Email.aspx ), download their 211 app, text your zip code and need to 898.211, or call 211.
Food Assistance:
Link: https://acfb.org/
Or, text FINDFOOD pr COMIDA to 888.976.2232.
Link: https://www.feedingamerica.org/
Georgia SNAP, the state’s food stamp program - How to Apply
Link: https://dfcs.georgia.gov/food-stamps
For families with children:
Atlanta Public Schools Food Distribution Sites
Link: https://www.atlantapublicschools.us/Page/62032#NonAPS
City Schools of Decatur COVID19 Information
Link: https://www.csdecatur.net/covid19
DeKalb County Schools Meal Plan (as of March 27)
Link: https://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/covid-19/covid-19/update-24/
Link: https://dph.georgia.gov/WIC
Link: https://www.fns.usda.gov/meals4kids
Metro Atlanta YMCA Hunger Relief Programs
Link: https://www.ymcaatlanta.org/blog/current-ymca-hunger-relief-programs/
Two DeKalb County YMCAs - South DeKalb and Wade Walker - and six other metro YMCAs are distributing food to families that have children 18 years old and younger.
Housing Assistance:
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Guide to Coronavirus Mortgage Relief Options
Link: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/blog/guide-coronavirus-mortgage-relief-options/#renters
HUD COVID-19 Resources and Fact Sheets
Link: https://www.hud.gov/coronavirus
Link: https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/HUD_No_20_042
Call the Georgia HUD office at 404.331.5136.
Link: https://justshelter.org/
Link: http://https//www.makinghomeaffordable.gov/pages/default.aspx
Utility Assistance:
Atlanta Gas Light,(link: https://www.atlantagaslight.com/about-us/press-room/2020/atlanta-gas-light-provides-energy-assistance-resources ) AT&T,(link: https://about.att.com/pages/COVID-19.html#consumers ) Georgia Power,(link: https://www.georgiapower.com/covid-19.html ) and other local utility providers are dedicated to continuing their services during this time by promising not to suspend services, offering discounts and working with you on payments. Check DeKalb County’s Help for Citizens link: https://www.dekalbcountyga.gov/covid-19/help-citizens for other local utility assistance and updates. For additional assistance:
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
Link: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ocs/programs/liheap
Or, call National Energy Assistance Referral at 866.674.6327 or email energyassistance@ncat.org for more information
Partnership for Community Action
Link: https://pcaction.org/
Or, call 404.929.5200.
State of Georgia Public Service Commission Utility Assistance Programs
Link: https://psc.ga.gov/about-the-psc/consumer-corner/consumer-advisories/utility-assistance-programs/
Link: https://www.usa.gov/help-with-bills
Internet Assistance:
Staying connected is important during these uncertain times. If you have broadband at home or telephone services, the Federal Communications Commission is working to help with their pledge to Keep America Connected. (link: https://www.fcc.gov/keep-americans-connected ) If you don’t have broadband or access to the internet at home, here are some resources to help you get online:
Wireless access is available from all DeKalb County Public Library branches (link: https://dekalblibrary.org/index.php/branches ) during the hours the library would typically be open. Please follow any government orders to stay at home. If you do visit a branch, practice physical distancing by being at least 6 feet away from others.
· Georgia Broadband Deployment Initiative
Search for public wifi or learn more about getting the internet at home as many internet service providers are offering help during this time.
Link: https://wifi.xfinity.com/
Locate free wireless hotspots Xfinity has made available to support the community during this time.
Assistance for Seniors:
AARP’s Supermarkets Offer Special Hours for Older Shoppers
Link: https://www.aarp.org/home-family/your-home/info-2020/coronavirus-supermarkets.html
DeKalb County Human Services' Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Senior Life Resource Guide
Link: https://eldercare.acl.gov/Public/index.aspx
Or, call 800.677.1116.
Link: https://www.empowerline.org/
Or, call 404.463.3333.
Link: https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/
Link: https://www.ncoa.org/