March 31, 2020: Coronavirus Community Call

National and State Update-Ben Moser

Ben gave the following updates for Day 19 of the National Emergency from national, state and local news sources:

Crisis builds from coast to coast in the United States; death toll nears that of China
The White House is expected to release models showing the future course of the disease
The President and some Governors disagree about the availability of testing kits
Two factors altered the President’s timetable on reopening the country: estimate of the number of possible deaths and polling showed that the public was overwhelmingly in favor of keeping restrictions in place as opposed to sending people back to work prematurely
The President’s decision to extend social distancing guidelines until April 30,2020 came after officials reviewed 12 different statistical models
Coronavirus Response Coordinator, Deborah Birx, warned that the virus could kill 200,000 Americans in a best-case scenario
Hospitalizations spike in California as the Governor pleas for more health care workers
The total shut down of the hospitality industry has left farmers with produce that will die; catastrophic for farmers
Global stocks climb Tuesday; markets return to relative calm
From the Centers of Disease Control: 25% of people are asymptomatic and do contribute to transmission
In Georgia, leaders intensify the pressure on the Governor to take more drastic action
In Alabama, Governor Ivey is urging citizens to adhere to home confinement rules and only go out if necessary

Columbus Area Updates

Department of Public Health (Columbus Health Department) Update-Natalie Mann

Natalie gave the following updates:

No drive thru testing today due to inclement weather; testing will resume tomorrow
As of 8:30am, there were 14 cases in Muscogee County; total of 56 cases in our health district

Muscogee County School District Update-Dr. David Lewis

Dr. Lewis gave the following updates:

Alabama State Representative Update Chris Blackshear

Representative Blackshear gave the following updates:

Total of 949 cases in Alabama; Lee County has 73 cases
The state has a total of 13 deaths
The Governor’s video message yesterday stressed social distancing and only going out if you need to

Columbus Area Vulnerable Population Update

Home for Good Update-Pat Frey

Pat gave the following updates:

Regional Continuum of Care (COC) update call with Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) yesterday; doing everything we can to meet the needs in our state
Mega waiver put in place by HUD and funding information by the end of the week

Area service providers continue to work together to meet the needs of our vulnerable population by:

Providing shelter for those seeking shelter, access to sanitation and hygiene, and access to food
Communicating signs and symptoms, access to screening and messaging on availability of resources and services

Crisis Fund Update-Betsy Covington

Betsy gave the following updates:

Money is coming in and we are grateful
Reminder to non-profits to go to CFCV.com/coronavirus and fill out information sheet to share your needs

Open Forum Updates

Sexual Assault Support Center (The Center at 909)-Karen Tyson

Karen gave the following updates:

The Center at 909 is using ResourceConnect to chat with those impacted by sexual violence, dating violence, stalking, and human trafficking. This chat is
end-to-end encrypted and information is not saved. Chat hours are 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. Tuesday and Thursday; resourceconnect.com

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