Click HERE to be taken directly to the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) website.

TOP 5 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT COVID-19 AND DELTA VARIANT

1. Getting vaccinated prevents severe illness, hospitalization, and death; it also helps reduce the spread of the virus in communities.
• Unvaccinated individuals should get vaccinated and continue masking until they are fully vaccinated.
• With the Delta variant, this is more urgent than ever. The highest spread of cases and severe outcomes is happening in places with low vaccination rates.
2. Data show Delta is different than past versions of the virus: it is much more contagious.
• Some vaccinated people can get Delta in a breakthrough infection and may be contagious.
• Even so, vaccinated individuals represent a very small amount of transmission occurring around the country.
• Virtually all hospitalizations and deaths continue to be among the unvaccinated.
3. In areas with substantial and high transmission, CDC recommends that everyone (including fully vaccinated individuals) wear a mask in public indoor settings to help prevent spread of Delta and protect others.
4. CDC recommends that community leaders encourage vaccination and masking to prevent further outbreaks in areas of substantial and high transmission.
5. CDC recommends universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status. Children should return to full-time in-person learning in the fall with layered prevention strategies in place.

COVID-19 Funeral and Mortuary Science Guidance

The Georgia Department of Public Health has updated their guidance for Funeral Service. It is important to review the entire guidance, including infection control, general guidance, and additional resources. The updated DPH guidance may be viewed by opening the file below. We encourage you to print it for your staff. We have received numerous inquiries about the general guidance and have included it below for your quick reference.  

General Guidance for Funerals

• Attendees should stay 6 feet away from others, wear cloth face coverings, wash/sanitize hands frequently, and avoid direct contact like handshakes, hugging, and kissing at the service or funeral regardless of if a person is fully vaccinated* for COVID-19 or not to protect others who are not vaccinated.
• There is currently no known risk associated with being in the same room at a funeral or visitation service with the body of someone who has died of COVID-19. However, people should consider not touching the body of someone who has died of COVID-19.
• People who were in recent contact with the deceased and may have been exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19 should not attend unless they have been fully vaccinated* prior to their exposure.
• People who are part of an at-risk group (people who are older or have severe underlying health conditions), should stay home unless they are fully vaccinated* for COVID-19. People in this group that are vaccinated should still social distance and wear face coverings.
• People who feel sick should stay home.
• Funeral homes should:
• Consider offering livestreaming as an option for these services/viewings;
• Discourage families from providing food or beverages;
• Supply tissues and alcohol-based hand rubs for the families to use; and
• Stock an adequate supply of soap and paper towels in the restrooms.

Ultimately, funeral homes should determine how to best balance this guidance with the needs of their families. Each funeral home should develop a plan to manage challenges presented by the current situation. COVID-19 is a novel illness, and health officials are still learning more about the disease as it continues to spread in our communities. Funeral home managers should stay up to date regarding current COVID-19 recommendations to protect their staff and families of the deceased.

*Fully vaccinated for COVID-19 means that 14 days have passed since an individual has received their second COVID-19 vaccine in a two dose COVID-19 vaccine series or their first vaccine in a one dose COVID-19 vaccine series.

COVID-19 Testing in Georgia  

• Find a Public Health Testing Locations 
  

• Commercial Testing Locations

• DPH/Mako Test Sites
  

Find a Testing Location

• Commercial Testing Sites is provided and maintained by Castlight: COVID-19 Resource Center. These are private testing sites and are not endorsed, vetted, or managed by DPH. Individual test providers can set their own testing fee. Ask about the cost, availability, and requirements for testing when you call for an appointment.
• DPH/Mako Test Sites is a partnership between DPH and Mako Medical to offer free COVID-19 testing events across Georgia
  

If You're Sick or Exposed to COVID-19

Isolation and Quarantine Calculator - HERE

This tool gives guidelines and helps you determine how long you should isolate and quarantine when:

• You have tested positive and have symptoms
• You have tested positive but do not have symptoms
• You were exposed to someone with COVID-19 and you are not fully vaccinated for COVID-19