Old hotel turned into quarantine base for metro Atlanta coronavirus patients

ATLANTA — An old hotel in Cobb County is being turned into a quarantine base for people who test positive for coronavirus but don’t need medical attention.

Channel 2′s Tyisha Fernandes was in Marietta, where federal agents have taken over the old Raddison hotel on Commerce Avenue off I-75.

We’ll have a live look as officials finish preparing the hotel for patients, on Channel 2 Action News This Morning.

[RELATED: Special section on the latest on coronavirus in Georgia]

Agents put up fencing around the property Wednesday night. Black plastic material will cover the fences, so that media and other people can’t see what’s going on.

Officials said they are trying to avoid violating HIPAA laws.

Patients who test positive but aren't hospitalized will ride out the virus inside the hotel. Officials were putting up lights and cleaning crews were going in and out Wednesday night.

Fernandes contacted police to get more information about how many patients will be transported to the new unit, but no one seemed to have a number.

[RELATED: Drive-thru coronavirus testing underway for high-risk people in Cobb]

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