Public Hearing: YES ☐ NO ☒ Department: Chief Executive Office
SUBJECT:
Title
Commission District(s): All
Allocate $6,000,000 in CARES Act Funding for Immediate Needs County-wide in Priority 1 Public Health Services as described in the DeKalb County COVID-19 Emergency Budget Outline as listed below.
Body
Information Contact: Zachary L. Williams, COO/Executive Assistant
Phone Number: 404-371-2881
PURPOSE:
The DeKalb County Board of Health (DCBOH) developed a COVID-19 Response plan that will expand COVID-19 testing and access to public health services. In response to the current COVID-19 pandemic, the DCBOH has simultaneously managed up to six (6) Specimen Point of Collection (SPOC) sites in the county, partnered with Ethne Health, Clarkston Community Health Center (CCHC), and will partner with the “CORE” in support of COVID-19 testing and contact tracing. The plan expands telehealth services in the community, which includes an upgrade to MyInsight that will enable the DCBOH to provide outreach Healthcare services in the communities in support of COVID-19 testing and contact tracing. The upgrade to MyInsight, in conjunction with the expansion of telehealth provides resources for the DCBOH to provide Healthcare services to vulnerable individuals in DeKalb County. The DCBOH is also purchasing (four) health promotion/food health education units and six (6) mobile medical units.
This initial funding allocation to be provided to the DCBOH in support of the following Priority 1, Immediate Needs, projects, is $6,000,000.
• $2,000,000 MyInSight
• $1,200,000 Telehealth Equipment
• $2,800,000 Health Promotion/Food Health Education and Mobile Medical Units
In addition to the above, Priority 1, Immediate Needs, projects the DCBOH is working with DeKalb County Government to provide for a 6 to 9-month lease on a hotel to provide for quarantine and/or isolation of individuals either testing positive for COVID-19 or are symptomatic, who cannot isolate at home due to vulnerable household members and to design and build operational isolation rooms in each of the five (5) health centers, with Richardson Health Center and the TO Vinson Health Center being the #1 and #2 priority. The DCBOH is working with the county to provide contract staffing to support the SPOC sites that provides DCBOH staff for the reopening of the North and East Health Centers.
A subsequent funding allocation request could be requested for additional Priority #1, Immediate Needs, projects for program expansion and infrastructure.
NEED/IMPACT:
As of September 2, 2020, DeKalb County had a total of 16,760 COVID-19 confirmed cases, 1,876 hospitalizations and 312 deaths. Since March, the DeKalb County Board of Health has operated a COVID-19 Call Center and up to six (6) SPOC sites.
According to the latest COVID-19 White House Report, Georgia remains in the red zone for new cases and is still among the highest in the US with regards to positivity. DeKalb County is solidly in the yellow zone with an overall possibility rate of 6%. In September 2020, the DCOH plans to transition to two (2) regional SPOCS, strategically located SPOC sites to provide COVID-19 testing.
FISCAL IMPACT:
$6,000,000 from CARES Grant for Immediate Needs County-wide Priority 1, public health services as described in the DeKalb County Board of Health CARES Funding Summary for Priority #1 Immediate Needs and Priority #2 Projects, will be allocated to the DCBOH in support of the above projects.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
To approve the resolution and authorize the chief executive officer to execute all necessary documents....