ATLANTA — Two cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the state of Georgia. Gov. Brian Kemp and other state officials held a news conference Monday night to make the announcement.
"Both individuals are isolated at home with other relatives to keep the illness from spreading," he said.
Kemp said Georgians should remain calm and the state had been prepared for cases.
"Earlier tonight, I also spoke to the vice president for this news development in Georgia," Kemp said."He emphasized to me that COVID-19 continues to present a low risk for most Americans, but we must remain vigilant for medically fragile populations, including the elderly and those with existing health conditions. He mentioned that Americans should use best practices for prevention."
The Georgia Department of Public Health has listed some best practices to follow:
- Wash your hands often with soap and warm 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.
"Wash your hands and get a flu shot, I'll keep saying it every time I see you," said Dr. Kathleen Toomey, Georgia DPH commissioner and the chair of the Coronavirus Task Force.
Health officials said COVID-19 spreads through the air when a person infected coughs or sneezes. Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, and difficulty breathing. The symptoms can appear within two to 14 days after exposure.
Those considered at risk for contracting the virus are individuals who have traveled to areas where there are ongoing outbreaks of COVID-19 or individuals in close contact with a person infected with COVID-19.
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