UPDATED QUARANTINE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND HERE.

A letter from our partners at the Cobb and Douglas Public Health Department.

November 20, 2020 

Dear Parents and Caregivers of Cobb County School District Students: 

The Fall season has brought cooler weather, but also a rise of 100% over the last few weeks in COVID 19 cases in our county. We were already in the high transmission category, but this new rise in cases jeopardizes all the progress that has been made to this point. Not only are we seeing very high transmission rates, but our hospitals are now nearing capacity. Surges in many states throughout the nation show us that we have not yet controlled this virus. We in public health are deeply concerned with cold weather moving us indoors, the anticipated holiday travel, and the COVID fatigue that has made our community to be less likely to wear masks or keep our distance from others. 

The importance of keeping our children in school is indisputable. At this critical juncture, we need to work together to keep that a reality for us all. 

Cobb & Douglas Public Health (CDPH) is working with the school staff and parents to contain isolated cases of COVID-19 throughout the schools. Due to federal HIPAA laws, we try our best to protect the privacy of the affected individuals in each case. We wanted to take this time to remind of you of best practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Please remember, DO NOT send your children to school when they have symptoms of COVID- 19. These symptoms include, but are not limited to: 

• Cough 
• Shortness of breath 
• Fever 
• Muscle aches 
• Sore throat 
• Headaches 
• Congestion/runny nose 
• Diarrhea 

We have received multiple reports of parents sending their children to school while sick. We understand the burden of having to keep children home when they are sick, but sending sick children to school can endanger other children and staff, as well. Free Covid-19 tests are provided by CDPH in the form of nasal self swabs and results are available within 1-2 days. 

Also remember that any child who is in direct contact with a family member positive for COVID-19 for more than 15 minutes ACCUMULATED, over 24 hours during the isolation period is a close contact and should not be sent to school. They must quarantine. Not doing so, endangers the health of other children and the community at large. 

These orders are in accordance with O.C.G.A. §§ 31-2A-4(4) and 31-12-4, Chapter 511-9- 1 of the Rules of the Georgia Department of Public Health. 

We also ask that you all help us to contain the spread of COVID-19 within our community. Wearing masks, washing hands, social distancing, and avoiding crowds of people will go a long way in winning this battle. 

Please contact us at www.cobbanddouglaspublichealth.com for more information on COVID-19 or to sign up for a free test. 

For additional information, please visit the Georgia Department of Public Health website: 

Isolation Guidance: https://dph.georgia.gov/isolation-contact

Quarantine Guidance: https://dph.georgia.gov/contact

COVID-19 Daily Status Report: https://dph.georgia.gov/covid-19-daily-status-report

Janet Pak Memark M.D., M.P.H, F.A.C.P. 

District Health Director 

District 3-1: Cobb & Douglas Public Health