Washington County has seen 194 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the last two weeks, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health’s Wednesday, August 5 report.
Hospitalizations associated with COVID-19 have increased, as well. Washington County Regional Medical Center’s designated COVID-19 beds, totaling 12, are all occupied with COVID-19 patients.
The month of July was a record month for Washington County in terms of confirmed COVID-19 cases. The Georgia Department of Public Health reported nearly 300 new confirmed cases for Washington County for July.
Since August 1, Washington County has seen 49 confirmed cases.
The Georgia Department of Public Health also reported Washington County’s second COVID-19 related death in its Friday, July 31 report.
With the increase in cases for the community, several businesses have announced modifications to their schedules as well as changes to limit interactions with the public.
In response to Washington County’s recent increase in COVID-19 illnesses, May and Smith Funeral Directors will, again, modify their approach to funeral services. All indoor services will be limited to family-only events. Outdoor services will remain open to the public, while observing social distancing practices. All services will continue to be recorded and posted the following day at the bottom of the deceased’s obituary.
“We will continue to monitor this health care crisis and respond appropriately to ensure our community’s safety all while serving families who have experienced loss in a caring and compassionate manner,” reads a social media post from May and Smith Funeral Directors.
Trackside Pub & Deli in downtown Tennille announced on Tuesday afternoon that they would close Tuesday, August 4 and Wednesday, August 5 to complete a thorough cleaning of the restaurant using EPA-approved sanitizers. This decision was made after an employee tested positive for COVID-19. All personnel who were in close contact with this employee will follow the CDC protocols for isolation and/or testing. According to the local business, the Washington County Health Department was notified of the situation; the health department provided guidance as to how to handle the situation in the safest way.
***Update from Trackside Pub & Deli: All of the employees who were reported as close contacts are now isolating for 14 days or until they receive a negative test result per the Department of Public Health guidelines. During the closure, all surfaces in the dining room, bar, kitchen, and bathrooms have been disinfected using EPA approved disinfectants that kill bacteria and viruses.
“We feel certain that Trackside is safe to open to serve our customers; however, until our staff is complete, we will have to delay reopening our dining room and offer take-out only for the next two weeks,” reads a social media post from the restaurant.
Stay tuned to 99.9 FM and waco100fm.com for additional information on business related alterations.