DeKalb COVID-19 April 9 town hall to address racial disparities in infection rates and deaths

A panel of medical and psychiatric experts are prepared to tackle tough questions and issues during DeKalb County’s third COVID-19 virtual town hall meeting on Thursday, April 9, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

One key topic of discussion will focus on recent reporting highlighting disproportionate rates of COVID-19 infections in black Americans.

 The virtual town hall will be hosted by DeKalb’s COVID-19 Strategic Task Force. DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond formed the task force to provide professional, technical and strategic counsel related to protecting the health, safety and economic well-being of DeKalb’s 750,000 residents.

“Doctors and healthcare professionals should lead America’s response to this deadly pandemic,” said DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond. “They know what needs to be done to fight this insidious enemy. When lives are literally hanging in the balance, we must reject mindless partisan bickering and political one-upmanship.”

The town hall will be moderated by radio and television personality Frank Ski. The host of a morning show on V103, Ski has worked in radio, music and acting for more than three decades.

Experts participating in the virtual town hall include:

• S. Elizabeth Ford, the district health director and chief executive officer of the DeKalb County Board of Health since February 2005. She is also serving as the interim district health director of Fulton County Board of Health.

• David Ross, the president and CEO ofThe Task Force for Global Health, oversees 13 programs focused on disease elimination, prevention, and protection. For more than 35 years, Dr. Ross has led collaborative programs to strengthen information capacity of public health systems around the world.

• Anastasia Brown Alvarado, a board-certified adult, child and adolescent psychiatrist, at Viewpoint Health and Family Ties Inc. Dr. Alvarado graduated from Morehouse School of Medicine in 2006.

• Patrick O’Carroll, head of the health systems strengthening sectorof The Task Force for Global Health’s. Dr. O’Carroll has served as a regional health administrator for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and as a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention epidemiologist.

• Demaree Trammel, a psychiatry specialist with the DeKalb Community Service Board. Dr. Trammel graduated from Duke University School of Medicine in 1997 and has been practicing for 23 years.

Panelists will provide residents with practical, apolitical advice related to COVID-19 and will answer questions such as:

• How can parents protect the mental health of their children during this pandemic?
• How do you cope with not being allowed to visit the dying or attend a memorial service or funeral?
• What does it mean to “flatten the curve” and how can residents help?
• Can information overload about COVID-19 lead to post-traumatic stress disorder?
• What medications and supplies should residents have during a quarantine?
• Are certain racial or demographic groups less susceptible to contracting the COVID-19 virus?

The virtual town hall can be accessed via:

• www.dekalbcountyga.gov
• Comcast Cable Channel 23 in DeKalb County
• Facebook live: www.facebook.com/ItsInDeKalbGa

Questions also are being accepted now and during the town hall via:

• Email at townhall@dekalbcountyga.gov.
• Social media:
  • Facebook: www.facebook.com/ItsInDeKalbGa
  • Twitter: www.twitter.com/ItsInDeKalb.

Questions also will be accepted during the town hall at 404-371-2400.

For additional COVID-19 information, visit www.dekalbcountyga.gov/coronavirus