Dalton COVID-19 case

Is now in dalton.

The hospital in whitfield county is taking major precautions as it attempts to test more people for the virus.

News 12's angela moryan joins us now live from dalton.

Angela, what changes is the hospital making?

Starting today, no visitors are allowed into the hamilton health care facility with the exception of extraordinary circumstances.

The hospital has also set up two large tents just outside the emergency room entrance to test those who think they might have the virus.

However, health officials are asking you, please, if you don't have severe symptoms, just stay home.

Pkg dr. zachary taylor/north georgia health district head: "they can now assume that there is ongoing transmission of the virus within our community, and they should protect themselves."

Late tuesday afternoon, hamilton health care system in dalton confirmed a patient has tested positive for covid-19.

This helps bring the number of cases in georgia to 197 -- which is up from 146 cases on tuesday.

Michelle bailey/ringgold resident: "it's just scary.

I mean, you don't know how to react.

You go into stores and the shelves are empty and you think, 'i don't want to be too reactionary and buy up things,' but you want to make sure you're taking care of your family."

Bread and eggs aren't the only shortages right now.

Dr. taylor says the health department is having a hard time buying sufficient numbers of medical masks to equip the hospitals.

Dr. taylor: "that's a problem across the nation.

We're constantly trying to find new sources of masks.

There is a need for lots of masks because the health care workers need to change them out.

So they'll go through lots of masks.

We're working with the cdc, with the manufacturers and our state office to make sure what masks we can get are distributed to all of the facilities."

Dr. taylor says the availability of testing is limited.

He's encouraging only those with severe symptoms to call their doctor or hospital ahead of time so they can be tested with appropriate caution.

Bailey: "i think that's all you can do.

I think that's what we've got to do.

We've got to be proactive in closing the airport for foreign visitors and we've got to get ahead of the situation.

I told my daughter, we're going home after this and we're not leaving for a few days."

Dr. taylor: "make sure you have a reliable source that you can depend on.

Take care of each other.

Let's come together as a community.

This can be our finest hour, as a generation and the generation after us."

We reached out to the hospital here in dalton for further comment on how they're handling the situation.

However, they did not get back to me.

Stick with news 12 as a reliable and dependable source for all you covid-19 updates.

Reporting live in dalton, angela moryan, news 12 now.

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