Pike County Times

advanced search engine by freefind
PO Box 843, Zebulon, Georgia 30295. You can donate through PayPal by clicking here. Becky Watts: Phone # 770-468-7583 editor(@)pikecountytimes.com
 
Online
Welcome to Pike County Times.com

This online news website is owned and operated by Becky Watts. If you enjoy reading Pike County Times, consider buying an advertisement for your business or sending a donation to support the only free online newspaper in Pike County. Donations can be sent to: The Pike County Times, PO Box 843, Zebulon, Georgia 30295. Click here to donate through PayPal. Thanks for supporting Pike County's only free online newspaper!

 

Click here to go to First Bank of Pike's Website
 
 
BREAKING NEWS: *UPDATED* Two Gordon State College Students May Have Been Exposed to COVID-19/Coronavirus
By Editor Becky Watts from the Gordon State College Press Release

BARNESVILLE - Dr. Kirk A. Nooks, Ed.D., President of Gordon State College, sent out an update on COVID-19 with the college and the two students who may have been exposed to COVID-19 while off campus earlier this week.

"This week has presented an extremely challenging time for the faculty, staff, students and supporters of Highlander Nation. We appreciate your patience and support as we all continue to grapple with the facts surrounding this global pandemic," he wrote. "This is new territory for all of us and know that there will be more questions than answers in the coming weeks. We will do our best to keep you updated on the facts as they pertain to Gordon State College."

He advised that "Gordon State College had been notified that two students may have been exposed to COVID-19 while working at an off-campus location" earlier this week. "I am glad to share that the student who was the first to self-disclose is still under self-quarantine and remains asymptomatic. This is very encouraging news," he wrote. "The second student was tested due to potential COVID-19 symptoms and has been found not to have COVID-19. The students remain quarantined at home, off-campus."

Dr. Nooks reiterated that while this is positive news and that the "overall risk of COVID-19 to students at Gordon State College is low," he encouraged the use of preventative measures for any respiratory virus including COVID-19 such as:

· Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
· Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
· Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
· Stay home when you are sick.
· Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
· Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

He urged calm and not panic despite the concerns and fear around this virus and stressed that that symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough and shortness of breath though most cases are milder with symptoms that are similar to a cold.

He closed by saying "there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in students at Gordon State College at this time" and advised that Gordon State College will provide updates as they learn more.

For accurate and reliable information about COVID-19 log on to dph.georgia.gov/novelcoronavirus or www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.


Thank you to First Bank of Pike for sponsoring Pike County Times’ Breaking News Alerts! First Bank of Pike has been serving customers in Pike County and the surrounding area since 1901 and offers Personal and Business banking with a personal touch. Services include checking, savings, money market, certificates of deposit, and IRA’s. Mobile Banking and Bill Payment services are also available! Click here for more. Please let First Bank of Pike know that you appreciate their sponsorship of Breaking News Alerts on Pike County's only FREE online newspaper!

If you want to find out about how you can get Breaking News Alerts, click here. Thanks for reading and supporting Pike County Times.com!

Submitted 3.14.20
Top
 
 
BREAKING NEWS: Two Gordon State College Students May Have Been Exposed to COVID-19/Coronavirus
By Editor Becky Watts from the Gordon State College Press Release

BARNESVILLE - Earlier today, Kirk A. Nooks, President of Gordon State College, sent out a notification to Gordon College faculty, staff, and students that two students "may have been exposed to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)" while working off campus. The notification advised that the Department of Public Health (DPH) is monitoring the situation including expediting testing to determine if they have actually been infected with the virus.

The Department of Public Health advised, "The students currently are quarantined at home, off-campus and self-monitoring for symptoms" and that the "overall risk of COVID-19 to students at Gordon State College is low." The DPH also advised that it will be contacting anyone who might have been "in close contact" with these two students and who "may be at risk of exposure."

According to the Department of Public Health, the best prevention for any type of respiratory virus remains washing your hands in warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds or using an alcohol-based hand santizer if warm, soapy water is not available, keep your fingers out of your eyes, nose, and mouth, avoiding close contact with people who are sick, staying home if you are sick, covering your mouth and nose with a tissue that can be thrown away when you cough or sneeze, and cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and objects that are touched frequently.

The end of the notification reiterates remaining calm and tells that the symptoms of this virus are "fever, cough and shortness of breath" and emphasizing that "most cases of COVID-19 are mild with symptoms similar to a cold."

Awareness also includes the knowledge that if you have traveled somewhere that there has been people sick with COVID-19/Coronavirus or if you have been in contact with anyone who is suspected of having this virus, please advise health professionals of your symptoms and how they could relate to your travel. The DPH is also advising those who suspect that they have been exposed to this virus to call your local health department or doctor's office, emergency room, or urgent care center from your home and ask for directions on how to proceed with getting needed care.

"To reiterate, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in students at Gordon State College at this time," President Nooks advised in the press release. "We will provide updates as we learn more."

Gordon State College is being very open about the situation and keeping the faculty, staff, students, and the public apprised of the COVID-19/Coronavirus situation through its website with a note in a bold yellow so it is easy to find: www.gordonstate.edu/current-student-gateway/index.html.

You can also click on the direct link to this update and read the entire notification at length by clicking here. There are additional links in the notification that can help give an understanding of COVID-19/Coronavirus.


Thank you to First Bank of Pike for sponsoring Pike County Times’ Breaking News Alerts! First Bank of Pike has been serving customers in Pike County and the surrounding area since 1901 and offers Personal and Business banking with a personal touch. Services include checking, savings, money market, certificates of deposit, and IRA’s. Mobile Banking and Bill Payment services are also available! Click here for more. Please let First Bank of Pike know that you appreciate their sponsorship of Breaking News Alerts on Pike County's only FREE online newspaper!

If you want to find out about how you can get Breaking News Alerts, click here. Thanks for reading and supporting Pike County Times.com!

Submitted 3.11.20
Top