CORONAVIRUS IN GEORGIA: What’s happening today - March 11, 2020

ATLANTA — Here’s a round-up of what’s happening today: (Click here for previous day)

• Pres. Trump is expected to speak about the coronavirus pandemic at 9 p.m. on ABC.
• The World Health Organization has declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.
• The first plane with passengers from a cruise with coronavirus cases has arrived at Dobbins ARB. More are expected to arrive later.
• A 2nd employee with Fulton County Schools has tested positive for coronavirus. Fulton County Schools are closed again today after a teacher who worked at two of district’s schools got sick.
• The Cobb County School District has reported a positive case of coronavirus at an elementary school. Kindcaid Elementary will be closed for 14 days starting March 12.
• Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has issued orders to fund a pandemic coordination team.
• In South Georgia, Valdosta City Schools were also closed Wednesday after a student teacher had indirect contact with a family member who may have been exposed.
• A Floyd County Schools employee has been diagnosed with coronavirus. Cave Spring Elementary School will be closed until Friday.
• The first coronavirus patient has been transferred to isolation site at Hard Labor State Park.
• Google has told employees in metro Atlanta to work from home if they can.
• Five Georgia advocacy groups have called for the governor to postpone Crossover Day, which is Thursday.
• There are 6 confirmed cases and 16 presumptive cases of the virus across the state.
• Two Gordon State College students are being tested after they may have been exposed to the virus.
• Cartersville Medical Center announced it has a patient that tested positive for coronavirus, in addition to three patients who are awaiting results.
• Gov. Kemp wants to take $100 million out of the state’s $2.8 billion reserves to fight the threat of coronavirus.
• Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has issued an order to keep Watershed Management from turning off anyone in metro Atlanta’s water for nonpayment for the next 60 days.

CLOSURES AND CANCELLATIONS:

• Atlanta has canceled its annual St. Patrick’s Day parade.
• Savannah has postponed it’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade and festival.
• Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has postponed the State of the City address.
• Cobb County Commission Chairman Mike Boyce has canceled the remaining SPLOST Renewal Open Houses for the month of March amid concerns over large crowds and the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The six scheduled events this month will not take place, but 11 other dates in April and early May will remain on the schedule.
• Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said the annual State of the City is being postponed.
• The NCAAP Civil Rights and Training Institute has been postponed until further notice.
• Westminster schools will be closed Thursday and students will utilize digital learning on Friday.
• Congressman John Lewis’ 80th birthday celebration has been postponed.
• Congressman David Scott announced that the 17th Annual Jobs Fair at the Georgia International Convention Center set for March 27 has been postponed.
• Brenau University has canceled all public events through March 20.
• The African American Male Wellness Walk has been postponed, along with other public events hosted by the Morehouse School of Medicine.
• Cobb County has canceled the remaining SPLOST open houses for the month of March. Dates in April and May remain on the schedule.
• West Cobb Regional Library is closed for cleaning after a worker came into contact with a person who had coronavirus.
• All parent/teacher conferences have been canceled in Floyd County.
• The Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta says they will only be holding programs with less than 250 people in any confined space.
• The City of Canton is postponing all non-essential public meetings.

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