by Robin Kemp

The Clayton County Health District has released its latest figures for COVID-19 in Clayton County as of February 7, 2021.

CCHD says there have been 19,281 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began last year, with 5.9% of those people requiring hospitalization. Clayton County residents make up 2.5% of Georgia’s COVID-19 cases.

323 Clayton County residents have died of COVID-19 during that time. That’s 1.7% of those who have tested positive in Clayton County.

As of Sunday, February 7, Jonesboro makes up 31.7% of the known cases in Clayton County with 6,121. Riverdale accounts for 20.3% of Clayton County COVID-19 cases at 3,913. Forest Park represents 9.9% of Clayton County cases at 1,901, while Morrow has 9.4% of the county’s cases at 1,817.

The three largest groups are ages 15-29 at 4,655 (24.2% of cases countywide), ages 30-44 at 5,158 (26.8%), and ages 45-59 at 4,642 (24.1%). That’s a total of 14,455 cases in people ages 15-59 in Clayton County.

Other groups hit hardest include women (10,862 or 56.3% by gender), Black people (10,201 or 52.9% by race), and non-Hispanic/Latino (10,359 or 53.7% by ethnicity). Hispanics and Latinos together represent 2,512 or 13% of Clayton County COVID-19 cases.

In response to the pandemic, Clayton County has taken several steps:

  • Various COVID-19 aid programs are available at https://relief.claytoncountyga.gov/. You can apply for more than one program but can only get payment from one.
  • Clayton County Community Development, Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Programs Division offers up to three months’ rental or mortgage assistance and a one-time subsidy for utilities assistance. To be eligible, you need to have a certain household income and show proof that your income was affected by COVID-19 (like a layoff or termination notice due to COVID-19). Learn more at https://www.claytoncountyga.gov/Home/Components/News/News/1161/16 or call (770) 210-5208 for more information and apply at https://form.jotform.com/203485994418064.
  • No one can be evicted in Clayton County “solely for non-payment of rent” until at least March 31. You still owe your back rent but you cannot be evicted just for nonpayment, according to Atlanta Legal Aid. You will need to fill out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Tenant Declaration Form at https://www.georgialegalaid.org/resource/tenants-declaration-form. Follow all the directions. If you are served with an eviction notice, call Atlanta Legal Aid (404-524-5811) or Georgia Legal Services (833-457–7529). 
  • On Feb. 28 at 7 p.m., the National Council of Negro Women Henry Clayton Section will hold a Zoom panel, “Why or Why Not? COVID-19 Vaccines in the African-American Communities.” The panel’s experts will discuss the pros and cons of the various COVID-19 vaccines, offer testimonials, and hold a question and answer session. You can take part on Zoom with Zoom ID 895 6384 7580 and Zoom password 357502, or on Facebook Live @HenryClayton2018.
  • The county’s COVID-19 testing site has moved to Rock Springs Baptist Church, 5900 Reynolds Road, Morrow. It’s open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Questions? Call (678) 479-2223.

Please fill out our COVID-19 survey if you live in Clayton County! We will close the survey at midnight on Friday, Feb. 12. And if you haven’t, check out The Clayton Crescent’s interview with Forest Park Councilman Hector Gutierrez, who talks about his ICU battle with COVID-19.

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