New COVID-19 treatment shows promise for Phoebe patients The Moments are getting treatment at Phoebe (Source: PPMH) By Dave Miller | January 18, 2021 at 12:49 PM EST - Updated January 18 at 1:06 PM
ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - Alvin Moment is a mechanic in Mitchell County, and regrets he did not always wear a mask on the job. A week before he ended up at Phoebe North, he began experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
“I’ve been having chest pains. My head has been hurting really, really bad, and my body’s been aching all over – just unbearable pain. I wouldn’t want nobody to have this,” Moment said. He also suffered other common COVID-19 symptoms such as loss of taste and shortness of breath.
Phoebe expands COVID-19 vaccine administration 65-year-olds can call 229-312-1919 to speak with a scheduler to set up an appointment for next week. (Source: WALB) By Dave Miller | January 7, 2021 at 10:04 AM EST - Updated January 7 at 11:12 AM
ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - Phoebe Putney memorial Hospital will begin to vaccinate southwest Georgians who are 65 and older and area law enforcement, firefighters, and first responders next week as the state of Georgia expands the first phase of COVID-19 vaccinations.
So far, Phoebe has only been allowed to vaccinate healthcare workers, but the state is broadening categories of people who are eligible to receive the vaccine.
With Georgia topping 5,000 current hospitalizations for COVID-19, public health experts are calling for more state restrictions to curb the virus surge.
Yet another ominous factor popped up Tuesday: Georgia Public Health officials reported the state’s first case of the more contagious COVID-19 variant discovered in Britain last month and subsequently detected in several nations and U.S. states.
The variant was discovered during analysis of a specimen sent by a Georgia pharmacy to a commercial lab, state officials said. The Georgia resident is an 18-year-old male with no travel history, and is currently in isolation at home. Public Health said it’s working to identify close contacts of the individual and will monitor them closely and test them for the variant.
As COVID-19 cases rise across the country, one of the worst-hit areas right now is the Southeast. That includes Georgia, where many hospitals are at or near capacity. Georgia is also lagging behind many other states in giving out vaccinations. Judy Woodruff spoke with Dr. Shanti Akers, a pulmonologist at the Phoebe Putney Health System in Albany, Georgia, to learn more.
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Judy Woodruff:
As we have reported, the new year begins, unfortunately, with more bad news about the coronavirus. There are rising cases across the country, and one of the worst hit right now is the Southeast.
On the last day of 2020, Augusta University Medical Center was swamped with very sick COVID patients.
Sixteen were waiting Thursday in the ER to be moved to ICU beds, but no such beds were available. And other hospitals were filled up as well, said Dr. Phillip Coule, vice president and chief medical officer of Augusta University Health System.
“It’s the worst surge we’ve seen,’’ Coule told GHN on Thursday. “The system is stressed.’’
That’s one reason why he welcomed Gov. Brian Kemp’s move to open up COVID vaccinations to people 65 and older, which the governor discussed at a morning press conference.