Piedmont Athens Regional

  The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has brought many challenges to the healthcare industry. Locally, one challenge many are encountering is navigating the visitor restrictions that local medical facilities have implemented. Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center has launched an email line for families and friends to send messages and well wishes to loved ones currently staying in the hospital.

Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center has created a coronavirus (COVID-19)-specific fund, called the COVID-19 Infrastructure Fund, intended to enhance and accelerate the work that is being done to take care of the communities the hospital serves. 

“We’ve seen amazing support from the Athens and surrounding communities,” said Tammy Gilland, executive director of philanthropy for the Piedmont Athens Regional Foundation. “With many people in our community still inquiring how they can help, we wanted to create a donation fund that these supporters can contribute to.”

Georgia's governor will order bars and nightclubs around the state to close because of the coronavirus. Gov. Brian Kemp said the order will take effect at noon on Tuesday and last for just under two weeks. He said the state would also ban gatherings of 10 or more people unless people could maintain 6 feet of distance.

Piedmont Athens Regional is currently hosting an ongoing blood drive. The hospital has partnered with the American Red Cross to help address the unprecedented number of blood cancellations in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Every two seconds there is someone in the United States in need of blood or platelets and all blood types are urgently needed. According to the Red Cross, more than 160 blood drives across Georgia have been cancelled, resulting in more than 7,700 fewer blood donations.