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The Troup County Board of Commissioners has launched a community-wide hotline to respond to questions and concerns related to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in Troup County, effective Wednesday.

The hotline can be reached at (706) 883-1719.

The Troup County COVID-19 Information Hotline will be staffed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Friday and available to the public until May 16. A news release from the county said the hotline could remain active or be disconnected depending on the guidelines in the Troup County Board of Commissioner’s state of emergency ordinance.

The news release said the hotline would be utilized to answer frequently asked questions regarding COVID-19, current Troup County services related to COVID-19, and local emergency ordinance concerns. It will also serve as a way to offer a centralized method of contact for inquiries while decreasing the abundance of non-emergency calls from E-911 communications. The county encourages the public to utilize the hotline for all non-emergency questions and concerns related to COVID-19 in the community. For emergencies, continue to call 911.

Amy Fenn, Georgia Department of Public Health District 4 assistant director, also urged residents not to call 911 during a roundtable discussion with LaGrange Mayor Jim Thornton on Monday.

“That is not the call that needs to clog that line up,” she said.

Thornton added to Fenn’s comment’s saying if it’s just someone wanting to report a concern about a business or crowds of people, call the public health, the city of LaGrange or the county hotline.

“Unless it is for a true healthcare emergency or something similar,” Thornton said. 

Troup County Board of Commissioners Chairman Patrick Crews also said last week that 911 needs to be for emergencies and not reporting crowds.

“We cannot overwhelm 911 with calls from citizens saying, ‘I think so and so is violating,’” he said. “We have to remember that 911 is still in the business of taking care of other emergencies also.”

The news release from the county said Troup County employees would provide up-to-date information to all residents who call the hotline.

In addition, staff will strive to direct callers to the appropriate resources across the community and the state.