- September 2, 2021
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WRBL
by: Maxsim Ealy
Columbus Ga. (WRBL) – A White House initiative has vaccination sites popping up at barbershops and beauty salons.
“Everybody who’s ever been to a barbershop or a beauty salon knows you get fact checked in a barbershop and beauty salon,” says Cameron Webb, Senior Policy Advisor to the White House for equity on the COVID-19 response team.
“Part of what we’ve done through this initiative is you know all of the barbers and stylists they’ve gone through training to learn more about the virus and the vaccine how it works and what some of the myths are,” says Webb.
He went on to say, “So they’re ready to have that conversation. They’re ready to encourage people to go a little bit beyond what they’re seeing on social media. Or kinda the myths that are in they’re community to seek facts and that’s gonna be a key ingredient in our ability to find a way through this pandemic.”
Carolyn Wilson the owner of the shop feels she’s providing a necessary service to her community
“I felt like since I’ve been down here in the community for many of years,” Says Wilson. “That they trust me holding it. If they see me doing it here that means they will come out and either get educated or go ahead and get their vaccination.”
This event comes to Columbus at a time when the vaccination rate in Muscogee County, currently 35%, is lagging behind the national average of just above 53%, and local hospital beds are full.
“Hospital beds are at capacity and of course we’re approaching emergency situations in terms of additional beds,” says Representative Sanford Bishop. “So, we have got to get it done. We have got to get to understand how important it is for ourselves and each other”
Georgia DPH West Central Health District officials would like to see vaccinations go above and beyond the national average of 53%
“My goal is beyond the 50% to the 75%” says Georgia DPH West Central Health District Director Beverly Townsend.
“That’s the way were gonna approach it is through education and availability,” says Columbus Mayor Skip Henderson. “We gonna make sure people are getting accurate medical information instead of reading it on some website.”
He went on to say, “And we’re also gonna make sure that we do what DPH and ultimate touch is doing today, and that is get into the neighborhoods and offer this vaccine for those that are healthy enough to take it”
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LaGRANGE, Ga. (WRBL) – A Facebook group called Chatty LaGrange Women, with about 5,000 women came together for one of its members on Sep. 1, 2021. Brandi Luke is facing some serious health conditions and will be undergoing surgery in about a week. Due to the ongoing pandemic and her upcoming surgery, she was unable to celebrate her son Gabriel’s birthday in a big way so the Chatty LaGrange Women did it for her.
“Chatty LaGrange ladies, sisters, I love you, I appreciate you, I thank you. There are not enough words in the dictionary to describe the feelings that I am feeling right now. With everything in me, I am holding back tears so I just want you all to know that I appreciate all you have done for me and my family and God bless each and every one of you,” said Brandi.
LaGRANGE, Ga. (WRBL) – The Mike Daniel Recreation Center on Lafayette Parkway has been named a temporary shelter for Hurricane Ida evacuees. The center was opened to evacuees on Aug. 31, 2021 and will close on Sep. 2, 2021 at noon. However, evacuees can still receive food, water and gas cards until Sep. 3, 2021 at 4 p.m.
Keyon Williams, an evacuee if Ida and Hurricane Katrina survivor, said she and her family had to leave New Orleans and made a stop in Alabama before arriving in LaGrange.
PHENIX CITY, Ala. (WRBL)- A new COVID-19 strain was found in South Africa and it has quickly spread to other parts of the world.
According to Reuters, the new variant C.1.2 was discovered in South Africa in May 2021. Since then the new variant has made its way to several other countries. The new variant has been found in England, New Zealand, China, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mauritius, Portugal and Switzerland. Pediatrician and founder of Preferred Medical Group Dr. Ritu Chanda said it’s only a matter of time before the variant comes to the United States.