“I don’t want to use this body bag” - Coroner pleads with community to take coronavirus seriously

DOUGHERTY COUNTY, Ga. — The coronavirus is ravaging Dougherty County. Hundreds of people have tested positive and dozens have died of COVID-19.

The small southwest community is one of the hardest-hit areas in Georgia.

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During a council meeting Monday, Dougherty County officials warned about the dangers of the coronavirus.

One of the most striking moments during the meeting came when the county’s coroner took his turn to speak.

Dougherty County Coroner Michael Fowler said he’s struggling to get the community to grasp the gravity of the current situation. (Watch the moment in the video above around 21 minutes in.)

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“A few weeks ago, I made the statement I did not want to reach 100. Well, we’re 3/4 of the way there,” Fowler said. “It’s sad. GEMA has set up a morgue for me last week and they finished it this morning. And I was hoping not to need that morgue, but the way it’s going, I’m going to need that morgue and another morgue.”

[36-year-old mother of twins with no underlying conditions dies of coronavirus]

Fowler then launched into a passionate plea for people in his county to take the state-of-emergency orders seriously.

“I want you to get the picture today. I don’t want to use this body bag. I want it to stay in the plastic,” Fowler said.

Fowler said the average age of deaths is 71 years old, but there have been people in their 30s, 40s and 50s who have died from the virus.

“I love you, and that’s why I’m trying to save lives,” Fowler said.

36-year-old mother of twins with no underlying conditions dies of coronavirus Her mother wants people to know that it can happen to anyone.

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