THOMASVILLE — The majority of people who become ill with the coronavirus will not require treatment, according to a Southwest Georgia Health District official.

Hank Wilson, emergency preparedness director for the Southwest Georgia Health District, said 80 percent of those who contract COVID-19 will not require treatment.

Wilson was among about 60 people attending a Sunday community meeting to address the coronavirus virus.

Chris Jones, Thomas County emergency management director, said the meeting would be the first and last of its kind. Future communications will be done by phone, texts and via technology.

The meeting was conducted at the Remington Avenue emergency services building. Personnel opened exterior doors for those attending to prevent visitors from having to touch doorknobs.

Pointing out various organizations and agencies represented at the meeting, Jones said, “It all starts local and ends local.”

As of Sunday, no one in Thomas County had tested positive for the disease. Three people have been tested. Results are pending.

“Social distancing is the key to this whole thing,” Wilson said.

Across the state, 121 coronavirus cases had been confirmed as of noon Monday. One person has died.

Wilson said the worldwide death rate from the virus is not as high as it was when the coronavirus originally left China.

Officials said that if someone dies from coronavirus, attendance at the funeral should be kept to a minimum. They also advise to avoid mass gatherings.

Wilson was asked about hot spots for the disease in Southwest Georgia. He declined to pinpoint a specific area.

“It’s everywhere at this point,” Wilson said.

Wilson added the nation remains in the middle of a lengthy flu season and there is now more pollen in the air. 

“The flu is still rampant,” he said. 

Charles Winchester, Archbold emergency management coordinator, said an Archbold coronavirus screening site opened Monday at OneBlood near Urgent Care. A physician’s order is necessary to be screened.

It is not practical to test everyone countywide when people do not have coronavirus symptoms, Winchester said. About 300 test kits are available now for Thomas County.

Coronavirus tests are sent to California to be analyzed. Seventy-two hours or more are required for test results to be known.

If a person tests positive, who they had contact with must be tracked. A person is treated when acute respiratory problems arise.

Tim Coram, Thomas County Emergency Services chief, said this community is doing the same as communities nationwide — “trying to stop it.” 

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820 

Current Archbold Memorial Hospital coronavirus information is available by calling:

• (229) 228-2273