University of West Georgia students were informed late last night via their campus engagement platform Wolf Connect that a person who works as a faculty member in the College Of Education has self-reported a positive COVID-19 test.
The announcement states that the faculty member was last seen on campus on March 11, 2020.
Public Health officials on Wednesday said this is a clinical diagnosis and not a lab confirmed COVID-19. There are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Carroll County at this time. Officials could not confirm in which county the patient received the clinical diagnosis or if the individual is a Carroll County resident.
District 4 Public Health is working with UWG to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and protect the general public by identifying and contacting the individuals who may have had contact with the faculty member while symptoms were present.
The overall risk of COVID-19 to the general public remains low, although elderly people and individuals with chronic medical conditions may have increased risk for COVID-19. The best prevention measures for any respiratory virus are:
Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
If you have recently traveled to areas where there are ongoing outbreaks of COVID-19 and develop fever with cough and shortness of breath within 14 days of your travel, or if you have had contact with someone who is suspected to have COVID-19, stay home and call your health care provider or local health department right away. Be sure to call before going to a doctors office, emergency room, or urgent care center and tell them about your recent travel and your symptoms.
A daily status report page for confirmed COVID-19 cases in Georgia is now available. The report updates each day at noon to ensure accurate and regular information is provided to the public. The new tool can be found on the Georgia Department of Public Health website
For accurate and reliable information about COVID-19 log on
to https://dph.georgia.gov/novelcoronavirus or https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019- ncov/index.html.