Dougherty Co. leaders give new info at Wednesday press conference

ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - Dougherty County leaders are addressing the latest developments on COVID-19.

Mayor Bo Dorough said that Phoebe’s Scott Steiner the infection rate continues to rise in the community, and we want to flatten the curve and the number of admissions of COVID patients will stabilize over an extended period of time and then eventually decline.

The benefit is to give health care community more times to get supplies and equipment to Prevent staff at phoebe from being overwhelmed

Dorough said we could do much better as a community, and addressing calls for a lockdown said gov kemp’s order prevents local governments from doing anymore or any less

He said we should mask Up and use face coverings, amid the debate about the benefit of masks-virus transmitted by microscopic droplets.

“It’s possible that carriers are most contagious during the incubation period- when person has no idea they have the virus, and the virus can be transmitted by simply breathing.”

Medical grade masks should be reserved for healthcare. but you can wear a cloth face-covering- make it out of cotton.

Dorough said this is not the act of a police state. “I believe in civil liberties until these acts jeopardize the health of others. It’s selfish and foolish not to follow rules.”

Dougherty County Coroner Michael Fowler gave demographics and statistics in his report to date on the deaths in Dougherty County.

Fowler said there are three deaths pending at the moment, for a probable total of 63.

Fowler broke down the demographics of the victims, saying there are 29 males and 34 females. There have been 23 black males and 23 black females, in addition to six white males and 11 white females.

The age of the deceased breakdown is:

Two in their 30s
Five in their 40s
One in their 50s
25 in their 60s
11 in their 70s
14 in their 80s
Five in their 90s

The average age of those who have died is 70.5.

Fowler said someone just had a funeral of 50 people, and he expressed displeasure over that.

“If one funeral home is going to disobey, the rules it won’t work,” Fowler said. “Only 10 people can go to a graveside service.”

Dougherty County Commission Chairman Chris Cohilas said we have lost 60 doco citizens; 60 grandmothers, moms, dads and brothers.

Many people on ventilators cannot breathe, and that’s reality of the world we live in. We don’t know rhyme or reason why some die and others don’t, but we continue to take steps to be safer than ever before.

Some people are perfectly healthy but can spread the virus, so we want to “Mask Up Albany and Dougherty Co.”

Officers have had to issue citations, and we are working through difference been the governor’s order and the county order previously issued to specifically address convenience stores. Operating gambling machines/amusement machines is a bad idea to go and sit in a store to play these games.

Go to the store, buy what you need and go home. The Georgia lottery will be calling all stores to enforce they’re following rules.

Don’t call 911 unless you have true emergency... don’t call 911 to report a business. 229-302-1900 id the number for emergency operations center to report.

Thye extended emergency declaration order does not extend shelter in place. It may be extended later on but not for right now.

Billy Mathis of Lee County said they have 200 confirmed cases and 15 deaths, and the good news is the death toll hasn’t been rising.

He reiterated that Lee Co. can’t make new rules to governors order, and we should not throw gloves on the ground, but dispose of them properly.

759-6023 is the information number for lee county residents.