Fayette County
News
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Hitting the diamond. B1
THE TRUTH SINCE 1886
WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020
VOL. 148, NO. 28 INSIDE: Fayette Views: The sea and me. A4
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INSIDE: Alcohol ordinance tweaks could woo new establishments to Fayetteville. B2
COVID-19 cases jump nearly 3,500 in 1 day BY JOHN THOMPSON JOHN@FAYETTE-NEWS.NET
The Georgia Department of Public Health Thursday said confirmed coronavirus cases in the state are 87,709. The increase in cases over the last day is 3,472, which is a new
record number of new cases. Fayette County has 363, up 41 cases since last Friday. The county also has 48 cumulative hospitalizations and 19 deaths. Neighboring Coweta County has 708 cases,16 deaths, and 61 hospitalizations. Statewide, more than 883,000
tests have been conducted. The state has an 9.1 percent positive test rate. The department defines confirmed COVID-19 cases as those who have a lab-confirmed infection. Some confirmed cases from the last 14 days might not be
reflected or accounted for as recent illnesses might not be reported yet or might have pending test results. Delays in reporting can cause the number of COVID-19 cases reported on previous days to increase and might not reflect cases that have yet to be
reported. Given the time taken to conduct laboratory testing, confirmed cases from a previous day might be added to the daily counts a few days later. For more information on COVID-19, visit the Georgia Department of Public Health website, www.dph.georgia.gov.
Kemp extends health state of emergency through Aug. 11
A restored WWII B-17 Flying Fortress “Texas Raiders” was set to appear at the 2020 WWII Heritage Days at Falcon Field in Peachtree City, originally set for May 2-3.
WWII Heritage Days grounded for 2020 ‘We do not want to put any of our guests, volunteers or members at risk’
T
he Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Dixie Wing is canceling plans for World War II Heritage Days on Sept. 12-13. This includes the Hangar Dance scheduled for Sept. 12. All ticket purchases will be refunded by Aug. 1. “We had high hopes that we could proceed with WWII Heritage Days in September, as previously announced, but uncertainties with various official COVID19s projections created too much doubt about the safety of a large event like ours,” said Dixie Wing Development Officer and WWII Heritage Days Chairman Chris Madrid. “We do not want to put any of our guests, volunteers or
‘All of our work is dedicated to the memory of World War II veterans and those in the Home Front who generated an unprecedented effort to win the Second World War.’ Chris Madrid Chairman, Dixie Wing Development Officer and WWII Heritage Days members at risk, and it will be safer to wait until 2021. This is particularly painful for us because we were recently named one of the top 20 events in the Southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society, and we were looking forward to putting on a great show this year in honor of the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII.
“All of our work is dedicated to the memory of World War II veterans and those in the Home Front who generated an unprecedented effort to win the Second World War,” Madrid said. The Dixie Wing is planning a series of community events in the coming months, dependent upon the
status of COVID-19 at that time. Those plans will be announced as appropriate. The CAF Dixie Wing, based in Peachtree City, was founded in 1987. The Wing, one of the largest units of the Commemorative Air Force, maintains and flies seven WWII aircraft including a P-51 Mustang, an FG-1D Corsair and rare types such as the SBD Dauntless dive bomber and P-63A Kingcobra. The unit, composed of 300 volunteers, is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization that relies on contributions of time and funds to carry out the mission of the CAF. For more information, go to www.dixiewing.org.
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COMMUNITY A2, A3, A6, B2 FAYETTE VIEWS A4
SEE KEMP, PAGE A6
Piedmont Fayette urges social distancing, masks
of all supplies needed to complete all camp activities. Pre-recorded instruction videos, educational videos and guest speakers will be made available to all Camp Activity Box subscribers. Worksheets, instructions and educational materials will also be included. Camp Activity Boxes are appropriate for children aged 6-12.
As the number of COVID-19 cases continue to rise around the Southeast and the nation, state governments and healthcare officials are asking citizens to practice safe behaviors in order to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. “One of the most effective things we can do to stay healthy and reduce the spread of COVID-19 is to wear a mask,” said Steve Porter, CEO of Piedmont Fayette Hospital. “We know that wearing masks slows the spread of COVID-19, especially when combined with social distancing, hand washing, and frequent cleaning of high touch surfaces.” On Monday, June 29, Gov. Brian Kemp renewed the public health state of emergency for Georgia, extending it to Aug. 11. In his executive order empowering a healthy Georgia, the governor also
SEE CAMPS, PAGE A6
SEE MASKS, PAGE A6
Southern Conservation Trust launches virtual camps Join the Southern Conservation Trust this summer for Camp WILD in a Box, right in your own home! The Camp Activity Box is $60 and comes with more than $280 worth of projects and access to online videos, tutorials and much more. This affordable, exclusive activity bundle makes summer camp accessible for all families during COVID-19. Camp WILD Activity Boxes will consist
On June 29, Gov. Brian Kemp signed two executive orders extending the Public Health State of Emergency and existing COVID-19 safety measures. “As we continue our fight against COVID-19 in Georgia, it is vital that Georgians continue to heed public health guidance by wearing a mask, washing their hands regularly, and practicing social distancing,” Gov. Kemp said in a news release “We have made decisions throughout the pandemic to protect the lives — and livelihoods — of all Georgians by relying on data and the advice of public health officials.” “While we continue to see a decreasing case fatality rate, expanded testing, and adequate hospital surge capacity, in recent days, Georgia has seen an increase in new cases reported and current hospitalizations. Given these trends, I am extending previous COVID-19 safety requirements and guidelines that were due to expire on June 30 at 11:59 p.m. Dr. Kathleen Toomey and the Department of Public Health, along with our local public health partners, will continue to monitor ongoing cases and related data to ensure that we are taking appropriate measures moving forward. Together, we can win the fight against COVID-19 and emerge stronger.”
OBITUARY A5 THIS WEEK IN HISTORY A5
SPORTS B1
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