Peach Pulse Archive 2020

Stay safe, stay home, get tested

Staying home is still the best option

Thank you to everyone who continues to do their part to flatten the curve and slow the spread of COVID-19 by staying home! By staying home and following physical distancing guidelines you are actively helping to defeat this disease and protect Georgia’s essential workers. Even as Georgia moves to “re-open,” we encourage you to continue to fight COVID-19 by staying home if you have the option.

So that you and your loved ones stay safe and healthy, don’t forget about these other healthy habits:

1. Avoid group gatherings and crowded businesses

2. Stay at least 6 feet away from people who do not live with you (That’s about 2 arm lengths!)

3. Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others

4. Wash your hands often

5. Cover your coughs and sneezes with your elbow

6. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces like doorknobs, faucet handles, and phones

7. Do not swallow, eat, or otherwise put any disinfectant or other cleaning product inside your body. If someone you know ingests a cleaning product, call the Georgia Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222

Get Tested: Georgia has expanded who qualifies for a COVID-19 test

GHF remains committed to bringing you useable information and resources during this pandemic. Here are a few updates that you may find helpful:

Expanded COVID-19 testing—if you or someone you know meets these criteria, you may qualify for a COVID-19 test:

• People with symptoms of COVID-19. Symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and new loss of taste and/or smell.
• Healthcare workers, first responders, and other critical infrastructure workers
• Persons living in long-term care facilities or other group residential settings
• People 65 years of age and older
• People with underlying medical conditions
• Household members or caregivers of any of the groups above
• People with symptoms who are not a part of any of the groups above may also be approved for testing, as capacity allows

You can find a test by contacting your primary care doctor or an urgent care clinic. Please do not show up at a testing site without an appointment.

Join us in May!

Are you in? Giving Tuesday Now is May 5th!

GHF is asking for your support on Giving Tuesday Now! Giving Tuesday Now will take place this Tuesday, May 5, 2020. This exciting and inspiring day aims to support non-profits across the U.S. as they respond to COVID-19. If you can afford to donate, we hope that GHF is among the non-profits that you support this Tuesday!

Your support of GHF:

• • • • Provides up-to-date information and resources to Georgians so they know how to stay healthy, and get help with their health, homes, or finances;
      • Activates health advocates across the state in support of policies that promote Georgia’s health and wellness;
      • Sends the stories of Georgia individuals and families, and the best available data, to Georgia leaders to inform their decision making; and
      • Brings together partner groups to collectively advocate for increased testing, strong consumer protections in public and private health insurance, Medicaid expansion, and the many other policies that are necessary to an strong, effective pandemic response.

Donate today to ensure that Georgians for a Healthy Future can remain a strong, responsive voice for all Georgians now and in the future!

Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day: Virtual Edition 

Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day is May 7th! Join the Georgia Parent Support Network, Voices for Georgia’s Children, GHF, and others to advocate for children’s mental health. As the COVID-19 pandemic strains the mental health of Georgia children and youth and their ability to access behavioral health services, you can advocate for solutions! Be a part of this special day. This year’s event will take place online on Thursday, May 7th, 2020 from 9:00 – 10:30 am and you can register here.

Be a health care advocate from home

Your story is powerful. Share it with us!

Your story is one of the most powerful tools available as we advocate for the health and wellness of Georgians. Your real life experiences can shape the decisions made by Georgia’s leaders about the state’s response to this crisis and our economic recovery.  If you or a loved one have lost your health insurance; are uninsured; recently lost your insurance; have sought COVID-19 testing or treatment; have other physical or mental health needs that you are trying to address during this time; are working in a job that exposes you to COVID-19; or have another health care story to share, we want to hear from you. You can share your experiences here. Thank you for your generous input!

Be an advocacy leader with the Georgia Health Action Network

Join the Georgia Health Action Network (GHAN) for updates, tools, and opportunities for advocacy with GHF! GHAN is a volunteer consumer health advocacy program that aims to develop consumers into effective agents for change. GHF welcomes all who are interested to join our monthly GHAN calls. During these calls, GHF staff share current advocacy opportunities, best practices for engaging with policy makers about timely issues, and answer member questions about organizing for positive change.

Sign up for GHAN action alerts here and email GHF’s Outreach & Education Manager Alyssa Green if you’re interested in participating in the GHAN program!

GHF in the news

What Kemp’s shelter in place order means for Georgians
Georgia Health News, Coastal Courier | April 6, 2020

Staying Home: What Kemp’s Shelter-In-Place Order Will Mean
Georgia Health News, WABE | April 6, 2020