MEDIA CONTACTS
| Andrew Cauthen | Quinn Hudson |
| Communications Manager | Chief Communications Officer |
| 404-371-2806 (o) | 404-371-2813 (o) |
| 470-553-4408 (c) | 470-522-8923 (c) |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 23, 2021
DeKalb Activates CodeRed Alert in Fight against Rapidly Spreading Omicron Variant
Emergency alert going out to 566,000 subscribers
DECATUR, Ga.— DeKalb County has activated the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) warning system to alert residents and visitors to the spiking omicron variant of COVID-19 in metro Atlanta.
“We want everyone to have a safe and healthy holiday, but we must be vigilant because of the surge in cases fueled by the COVID-19 omicron variant,” DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond said.
DeKalb will send out email and text messages to the county’s 566,000 CodeRED emergency notification system subscribers. The Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) will also transmit a geocoded text message to all residents, visitors and commuters in county’s boundary during the time of the alert.
By utilizing IPAWS geocoding technology, all visitors in the county will receive targeted COVID-19 alerts and messages on Dec. 23.
This is the fourth time the county has used the emergency notification systems to inform residents and visitors about the pandemic.
DeKalb County will urge residents and visitors to protect themselves and others by:
- Getting vaccinated.
- Wearing a mask in public places.
- Practicing social distancing.
- Avoiding large gatherings.
- Getting tested.
Residents are urged to get vaccinated and to get tested if they have any cold symptoms, or believe they may have come in contact with someone infected with COVID-19. For testing locations and other COVID-19-related information, go to www.dekalbcountyga.gov/coronavirus.
To sign up for CodeRED, visit www.dekalbcountyga.gov/dema/codered.
