Georgia has made incredible strides in the containment, testing, and control of the coronavirus pandemic. Tireless efforts by our doctors, nurses, healthcare professionals, National Guard soldiers and many other unsung heroes have resulted in a statewide decline of hospitalizations, ventilator use, and new reported cases of the virus. Under Gov. Brian Kemp’s leadership, our economy and businesses have slowly begun to reopen, paving the way for us to thrive once again.
Promising numbers and the continuous efforts to stop further spread of the virus show that Georgia is headed in the right direction. As we continue on our road to recovery and ultimately back to normal life, we must not forget that our ongoing battle with the virus is far from over.
As a General in the Georgia National Guard, I led our troops on deployments to New Jersey and Louisiana in support of efforts to contain the coronavirus. Georgia National Guard troops have shown tremendous courage in our missions to supply, sanitize, and support testing efforts for the citizens of this great country. We have seen tremendous bravery from all of those fighting on the front lines.
In recent weeks, I toured the state with Gov. Kemp and Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black to investigate some of Georgia’s hardest-hit communities. In a trip to Gainesville, where the local poultry industry was hit by an outbreak of coronavirus, we toured the Fieldale poultry plant and met with plant leaders, employees, and local Georgians to discuss the issues facing the facility, those infected, and the efforts to contain the virus.
Our meetings taught us that much of what was missing was access to information about the disease, and education on testing and treatment. As Georgia’s first Latino Constitutional Officer, I was very concerned that vital information was not being effectively communicated to the Latino and Spanish-speaking community. My first goal was to provide that information, in Spanish, to the community and its leaders. While this is a small step, it is a first step in creating an open dialogue for Latinos in this community and across the state.
Education and information are key components needed to stop the spread of coronavirus. With proper information, citizens are able to conduct safe practices, get the proper treatment, and most importantly, get tested for the coronavirus.
In May, Gov. Kemp set a goal that each and every Georgian should be tested for the coronavirus. Testing will help us understand where and how the virus is affecting our citizens. It is critically important for success, and we cannot do it alone. It will require help from Georgians across the state.
More than 400,000 Georgians have already been tested for coronavirus. It is an impressive number, but we have a long way to go to test our roughly 10.5 million residents. On the path to total testing, Georgia has received help through state agencies, universities, public-private partnerships, and an ever-growing number of companies dedicating their resources to the effort.
The state of Georgia has partnered with Augusta University to lead Georgia’s testing efforts through their AU ExpressCare app, allowing free coronavirus screenings and information on testing sites for all Georgians.
Just this month, Augusta University partnered with Sharecare, the State Health Benefits Plan’s official wellness provider, to integrate their digital platforms with the AU ExpressCare app to disseminate testing information and screenings to the more than 400,000 employees of the state health plan.
Peach State Health Plan has committed to delivering thousands of test kits to local Federally Qualified Health Centers which help test many of the state’s Medicare and Medicaid patients.
In May, CVS Pharmacy announced they would be adding dozens of testing sites around the state to bolster state testing capabilities.
Throughout the outbreaks, our hospitals have dedicated resources, opened new facilities early, and provided critical testing trials for coronavirus, building a foundation and setting the tone for quality care for our citizens.
These efforts, along with the countless others being offered up by Georgians across the state, play a vital role in getting Georgia healthy once again.
I am honored to continue to serve alongside Gov. Kemp on the Coronavirus Task Force and lead the Emergency Preparedness Committee against the coronavirus. Georgia is on the mend, but information, proper reaction, and ongoing testing will the help bring Georgia back to the thriving state we are.
John King is Georgia’s Insurance Commissioner.
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