COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Cobb County has declared a state of emergency due to the surge of COVID-19 cases.
Cobb county Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Lisa Cupid signed the declaration Thursday to help the county respond to the latest surge.
Officials said the dramatic increase in hospitalizations has left the county critically low on critical care beds and low vaccination rates compared to the rest of the country.
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“Public health officials are urging us to do whatever we can to encourage people to get the COVID vaccine and wear masks while near other people,” Cupid said. “This declaration will open the doors to provide assistance to others in the county who need it and highlight the critical stress this surge has put on our local healthcare facilities.”
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The declaration strongly encourages Cobb residents to get vaccinated as soon as possible, to have everyone, regardless of vaccination status, wear masks in public and encourages local businesses to re-implement mask mandates indoors.
The declaration also activates a plan that will allow more resources to be funneled to local hospitals.
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The emergency declaration will be in effect for the next 30 days and could be extended.