Scearce released from CHI Memorial Hospital
Community, Featured News, Featured Stories, News, Police & Government January 16, 2021
Blue Ridge, Ga. – After a long battle with Covid-19, Blue Ridge Chief of Police and recently elected Fannin County Post 1 Commissioner Johnny Scearce has been released from the hospital.
CHI Memorial Hospital released a video of Scearce being cheered on as he made his Honor Walk out of the hospital.
“Thank you all, God bless and what a great hospital and staff,” Scearce said as he made his way through a hall of staff cheering on his recovery.
Scearce had been in the hospital for 94 days according to CHI Memorial, but his battle with Covid-19 began in Sept. of 2020.
Scearce being released after 94 days at CHI Memorial. Image courtesy of CHI Memorial.
News of Scearce contracting the virus quickly spread via social media on Sept. 17 as his wife Brenda posted a personal post on Facebook asking for prayers for her husband.
At the time of the original post Scearce was in a regular room at Fannin Regional Hospital but struggling with maintaining healthy oxygen levels.
A prayer vigil was held outside the hospital for Scearce on Sept. 19 and Brenda posted a heartfelt thank you from both her and her husband.
During his stay at Fannin Regional Hospital, Scearce was sedated and put on a ventilator for several days, but was able to overcome this hurdle and made significant improvements. Scearce was released from Fannin Regional Hospital and returned home at the end of Sept.
While Scearce continued to make steady improvements at home, he was still experiencing low oxygen levels. News broke on Oct. 12 that he was being transferred via ambulance to CHI Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga.
The City of Blue Ridge along with Scearce’s brothers in blue gathered for a prayer vigil at the City Park on Oct. 13 and it was there that information was given as to the critical level of Scearce’s condition.
The community continued to rally behind their Chief of Police over the next several months with fundraisers and prayers.
The news of Scearce’s release from CHI Memorial is a major milestone that was celebrated by many via social media. Scearce still faces a long road of rehabilitation but the community remains confident that he will overcome any hurdles that he may face.
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Update: Two Staff members and One resident test positive for Covid-19 at Blue Ridge long-term care facilities
Community, News April 22, 2020
Blue Ridge, Ga. – Update April 30, 2020 – The Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) has rescinded one of the positive cases of a resident at PruittHealth – Blue Ridge. This this update brings the number of positive Covid-19 residents at PruittHealth – Blue Ridge back down to one.
The DCH also updated the number of residents currently at the long-term care facility to 64.
When a positive case or death is reported in a county and then rescinded it is usually due to the case or death being attributed to the wrong county when reporting and later is corrected. This has happened twice in the Georgia Department of Public Health’s overall report concerning Fannin County.
Update April 27, 2020 – The Georgia Department of Community Health is reporting a second confirmed case of Covid-19 at PruittHealth – Blue Ridge. Both cases are that of residents at the long-term care facility.
PruittHealth – Blue Ridge is currently housing 68 residents. This information comes from the DCH April 27, 2020 update. At this time there is no confirmed cases of Covid-19 among staff members at this facility.
List from DCH update showing a positive case at PruittHealth – Blue Ridge.
Update April 25, 2020 – More confirmed Covid-19 cases are being reported in long-term care facilities in Fannin County. This information comes via the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) April 24 update.
Two staff members at the Blue Ridge Assisted Living and Memory Care facility have now tested positive for Covid-19. According to sources all staff members at Blue Ridge Assisted Living were tested after an employee showed signs of the virus. Sources also say that those who were suspected of carrying the coronavirus have been in quarantine at home and have not returned to work at the facility.
DCH is also reporting that a resident at PruittHealth – Blue Ridge has tested positive for Covid-19.
At this time no more information is available on these cases. FYN will work to keep you updated as details become available to the public.
Original Story April 22, 2020:
The Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) is reporting that a staff member at the Blue Ridge Assisted Living and Memory Care facility has tested positive for Covid-19. This information comes from the DCH Long-Term Care Facility April 21, 2020 update.
DCH is responsible for Healthcare Facility Regulations in the state of Georgia.
List from DCH update showing a positive case at Blue Ridge Assisted Living and Memory Care
It was confirmed that the National Guard was present at Blue Ridge Assisted Living and Memory Care today at 10 a.m. to assist in cleaning and sanitizing the facility.
FetchYourNews has reached out to Blue Ridge Assisted Living and Memory Care Executive Director Faron Barton for further details surrounding this case and are awaiting response.
FYN will bring you further details as they become available to the public.
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Fannin Co. Special Olympics event cancelled
Community, Special Olympics, Team FYN Sports March 11, 2020
The Fannin Co. Special Olympics event schedule for April 3 has been cancelled in response to the spread of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak, according to statements from Gini Bell, head of the county organization, and Georgia Milton-Sheats, Special Olympics Georgia CEO.
A letter sent from Milton-Sheats on Tuesday, March 10, states, “Special Olympics Georgia is taking steps to limit the spread of COVID-19. We are are requesting the suspension of all local and area competitions and practices through March 31, 2020.”
The letter goes on to say the organization plans to reevaluate the situation March 31.
In response to the letter, Bell and the Fannin Co. Special Olympics leadership committee have decided to cancel the April 3 track-and-field event.
“Our planned track and field event was schedule for April 3, 2020 only a few days after this time period and reevaluation. Thus, the Fannin County Special Olympics leadership committee has decided to cancel our local area games (track and field),” Bell stated.
She went on to say, “This decision was not made lightly and the health and safety of our athletes and volunteers is of utmost importance. We serve many athletes that are elderly and/or immunocompromised and we want to ensure the safety of each one.”
There are currently multiple confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus in the state of Georgia, along with at least 36 other states, and more than 120,000 confirmed cases worldwide.
See the statements from Bell and Milton-Sheats below.
