Of Georgia’s more than 1,100 COVID-19 deaths, 12% are from long-term care facilities in a region that holds just 3% of the state’s population. As the state reopens, staff know that risks of exposure will only increase. By Max Blau This article was produced in partnership with ProPublica. Georgia Health News is a member of…
By Katja Ridderbusch Fabian Kausche doesn’t plan on getting a tattoo any time soon, and without much hair, a visit to the barber shop isn’t a priority either. Even though personally, he may be safe to do so. In mid-March, Kausche tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. He was ill…
By Madeline Laguaite and Jillian Tracy When Holly Maxwell was about 10, her mother began teaching her how to sew. It was a skill that proved useful for Maxwell’s relatives. Her mother sewed for the family, and her paternal grandmother made dresses for various women in Buford, where Maxwell grew up. She recalls how as a…
By Naomi Thomas A bus mobilized during the COVID-19 pandemic is bringing behavioral health care to two rural counties. The mobile health unit, run by CarePartners, a local agency, has been traveling through Emanuel and Candler counties in east Georgia to bring services to people in need. Since the virus appeared in the state, the…
By Naomi Thomas Patricia Lingo has seen her work hours at Waffle House cut back sharply during the coronavirus pandemic. But amid that drop in income, her needs have increased. “The coronavirus, well, it practically has taken my job away from me,” says Lingo, 72, a waitress. She says she’s worked “many a year” for…
The coronavirus crisis has put unprecedented focus on materials that health care workers use to protect themselves — and patients — from infection. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is in short supply across the nation. Health care facilities are scrambling to keep examination gloves, masks, surgical gowns and face shields in stock. But what about having…
On the same February morning when Juliette residents marched into Gov. Brian Kemp’s office demanding he support legislation to remove coal ash from their town, Monroe County Manager Jim Hedges sent an email to nationally known scientist Avner Vengosh, asking for help.
Georgia’s rural hospitals have faced financial challenges for a long time. Even the recent economic boom was not enough to pull them out of the ditch. Now things may get even worse. The COVID-19 pandemic is both a medical crisis and an economic shock, and in Georgia, the state’s most vulnerable hospitals could bear a…
By Madeline Laguaite Peter Dale, a restaurateur and chef born and raised in Athens, had never seen anything like it. On Monday, the streets of Athens were empty. The University of Georgia’s campus was silent. “Last week, UGA was on spring break, so it was already a quiet week. But it was extra quiet,” said Dale, owner…
Brenda Ulmer, a longtime operating room nurse, was walking to her car after one of her shifts when she suddenly realized she didn’t feel well. “My chest felt tight, my throat hurt, my nose was burning,” recalls Ulmer, who lives in the Atlanta suburb of Snellville. She was feeling sick to her stomach, too. “I remember…