Albany, Georgia

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Devastating Covid outbreak. As of this afternoon's Daily Status Report, Fulton County with a tad over one million population, had 1336 confirmed cases and 48 deaths. Albany/Dougherty County, with about 90,000 population, had 1042 confirmed cases and 66 deaths. Albany is about 180 Miles south of Atlanta, and 45 miles west of I-75. It is located in the heart of Southwest Georgia's agricultural area, famous for peanuts, pecans, and vegetables.

It is thought that the outbreak stems from two funerals held in the city in February. On a per-capita basis, Albany is the fourth hardest hit city in the US. It is somewhat of a mystery as to how the virus got there. I think Georgia's first Covid fatality was a person from the Atlanta area who attended one of the funerals, got sick in Albany, then returned to ATL where he later died.

My daughter and her husband and year-old child live at Shellman, about 35 miles west of Albany. Their area is beginning to see rising numbers of cases. My daughter teaches at a small private college in Cuthbert, Ga, about 50 miles West of Albany. An article Tuesday said that 41 residents of a nursing home in Cuthbert tested positive. My daughter lived for five years in a house directly adjacent-I mean 50 feet separation-to that facility.

Needless to say, the college (Andrew College) shut down before spring break and is now doing strictly online classes. My son-in-law writes code for aFlorida based gaming company, and has worked from home for 4 years. By the way, my granddaughter's pediatrician sent out an email earlier this week that he and his wife both have the virus!

My daughter sent us a copy of an email from the college president informing the faculty and staff of the spike in cases. My wife and I looked at each other and both said, "they better come up here." We called them and told them to pack clothes, groceries, and the baby, and come on. They were here in less than three hours.

Our county has 5 confirmed cases and 2 deaths. I realize that a lot of it is psychological, but there are practical reasons to be in an area with very little infestation of the virus.

Besides, I get to play with my granddaughter every day, and take her on Mule rides whenever I want to.
 
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The people who own the home below ours up in the mountains are a retired couple from Albany. They drove up to the mountains two weeks ago. They are too old to get out and do much, but they feel safer in Rabun county.

These are my neighbors who put food out for bears, and watch the bears from their ground level screened porch.
 
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The people who own the home below ours up in the mountains are a retired couple from Albany. They drove up to the mountains two weeks ago. They are too old to get out and do much, but they feel safer in Rabun county.

These are my neighbors who put food out for bears, and watch the bears from their ground level screened porch.

I don't know what scares me more, that they may have brought COVID-19 to your community or that they are serial bear feeders.
 
Red, I'm not being mean or snarky here but I have to say that you are doing exactly what shouldn't be done.
You've brought 3 people from the areas highest risk group- county, school, pediatrician, infected nursing home- and placed them amongst people in a relatively safe area.
I know everyone wants to be with loved ones in a crisis but I can't help thinking that you waited too long to make this decision.
It would probably have been better for everyone to have stayed where they were.

I hope for the best for you and your family, hang in there.
 
I don't know what scares me more, that they may have brought COVID-19 to your community or that they are serial bear feeders.

The population of Rabun country has tripled in the last two weeks. People have fled to their mountain homes to find refuge from the virus. The medical facilities and healthcare workers there are not adequate to handle an outbreak.

Feeding the bears is just plain nuts.
 
I live outside Albany next county over.
I believe most of the virus showed up the month before from the annual "Snickers" marathon run. People from all over the country
and from outside USA showed up. Its a large
event here w/many thousands around the event. That and some losses of people that had many metro cities in attendence in the recent past.
Anyways hopefully With people more aware of
the virus spread it will abate soon so we can
get out and about soon.
Treatments will soon help it and get people
feeling better about the future again.
Best J R..
 
I live outside Albany next county over.
I believe most of the virus showed up the month before from the annual "Snickers" marathon run. People from all over the country
and from outside USA showed up. Its a large
event here w/many thousands around the event.
Best J R..

I believe the funerals were in February, before the runs. The races and the huge attendance at them has not been publicized a whole lot. I believe it is almost a certainty that a bunch of folks were exposed during the race and all the events connected to it. No telling how many participants took it back home with them. Here is a very interesting article from an Albany tv station. Coronavirus no threat to annual Snickers Marathon
 
CNN Story on the Albany situation...dated Apr 3, so it's much worse now. Currently 995 known active cases, and 67 dead.

Two funerals and lack of social distancing: How coronavirus took over one small Georgia city - CNN

Look at the date of the death spike...Albany's population is also approximately 71% Black, and there are some who believe the death rate for Black Americans is much higher than other groups. I read one story from the Washington Post claiming that 90% of these deaths in Albany are Black Americans. I have no idea why this would be true...Could be related to a combination of Health Risk factors such as Hypertension, Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes, etc.

E2829688-72-AE-4-E29-8988-88314-CA50942.jpg
 
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Statistics in Louisiana are also showing the same trend, with the majority of deaths being Black. The statistics from the LA Dept. of Health are showing 70.48% of the deaths are Black in LA.

Here is a link to the web page. Look below the map.

<<<Link to the LDH Coronavirus web page>>>

I don't know what to make of the data either, but we've had enough deaths to make for an adequate sample group (755 deaths as of today).
 
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