Lanier County COVID-19 Cases Rise 6%: Local Football Scrimmages Cancelled

 

By Carol A. Gasser Moore

LAKELAND, Georgia – As Emory University infectious disease experts raise strong concerns about fall sports being played in areas, such as Georgia, particularly where there are high levels of COVID-19 cases the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) has cancelled all preseason football scrimmages across the state.

 

When the GHSA cancelled the scrimmages, locally last week’s Lanier County High School Band practice was also cancelled.  But the GHSA does not have jurisdiction over the band program, so the LCHS had its scheduled band practice this week while following the Georgia Music Program Educators recommended COVID-19 guidelines.

 

The scrimmage cancellations affected Lanier Count’s two football scrimmages (Pataula Charter-Aug 21; Cook County-August 28). This follows the Emory experts say would be safer action since many communities have COVID-19 case levels that exceed what are believed to safe allowable returns to athletic competition.

 

COVID-19 Weekly Case Changes August 6 – 12, 2020

HEALTH SOUTH DISTRICT

Department of Public Health

COUNTIES SOUTH HEALTH DISTRICT	Tested Positive	% Change	Deaths	% Change	Hospitalizations	% Change
Ben Hill	371  495	25% +	5	40%+	43	23%+
Berrien	324	19%+	1	100%	15	20%
Brooks	419	7%+	17	0%	47	2%+
Cook	456	8%+	6	0%	45	2%+
Echols	225	4%+	2	0%	8	12%+
Irwin	174	9%+	1	0%	26	11%+
Lanier	225	6%+	4	0%	15	6%+
Lowndes	3257	6%+	50	32%+	153	9%+
Tift	1380	6%+	44	20%+	181	4%+
Turner	260	98%+	18	0%	40	5%+