COVID-19

According to the CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network, COVID-19 outbreaks in Georgia long-term care facilities like Quiet Oaks have been rising since July.

According to the CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network, COVID-19 outbreaks in Georgia long-term care facilities like Quiet Oaks have been rising since July.

COVID cases rise at Quiet Oaks after months without outbreak

Hannah Freeman
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Quiet Oaks Health Care Center’s decision to cancel its Halloween carnival due to a COVID-19 outbreak disheartened residents and community members, but the concern now is how the facility manages the virus in a post-pandemic world.
Data from the CDC and Georgia DPH shows positive flu cases hitting a peak in January, but cases begin appearing in fall. The CDC recommends getting vaccinated before respiratory virus season officially begins in October. (Hannah Freeman/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Data from the CDC and Georgia DPH shows positive flu cases hitting a peak in January, but cases begin appearing in fall. The CDC recommends getting vaccinated before respiratory virus season officially begins in October. (Hannah Freeman/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Vaccines available as flu season approaches

Hannah Freeman
Wednesday, September 10, 2025
Health officials are encouraging residents to take action as COVID-19 cases slowly climb across Georgia and flu season nears.  Since last October, the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) has documented 9,311 total positive influenza cases statewide.
Ryan Sowell (from left), Chuck Thornton and James Thornton take a break from working on the Georgia Airsoft Inc. facility in Winterville last month. Thornton was one of the first to open a commercial airsoft facility. (Photo/Mitchell Stone)

Ryan Sowell (from left), Chuck Thornton and James Thornton take a break from working on the Georgia Airsoft Inc. facility in Winterville last month. Thornton was one of the first to open a commercial airsoft facility. (Photo/Mitchell Stone)

Georgia Airsoft survives through economic battles

Mitchell Stone
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Commercial airsoft was virtually non-existent in the Southeast until Chuck Thornton, a Winterville resident and paintball/airsoft pro shop owner, decided to start his own business in his backyard.
Graph of data provided by the Georgia Department of Public Health of Oglethorpe County's COVID-19 levels in the past six months.

Graph of data provided by the Georgia Department of Public Health of Oglethorpe County's COVID-19 levels in the past six months.

COVID, flu slow after recent spike

Lily Murphy
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
COVID-19 and flu levels in Oglethorpe County have leveled off after a post-holiday spike.    There were six confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Oglethorpe County as of Jan. 11, but only two confirmed cases on Jan. 15, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health.
(Caleb Rollins/The Oglethorpe Echo)

(Caleb Rollins/The Oglethorpe Echo)

COVID-19 cases increase in Oglethorpe

Caleb Rollins and Sidney Chansamone
Thursday, August 31, 2023
COVID-19 cases have been on the rise in Georgia in August, coinciding with the emergence of the highly transmissible EG.5 “Eris” variant. Oglethorpe County has been no exception to that trend.   The county reported 11 positive cases from Aug.
Workforce statistics from long-term care facilities. These statistics are a result of the pandemic. (Graphic/Shelby Wingate)

Workforce statistics from long-term care facilities. These statistics are a result of the pandemic. (Graphic/Shelby Wingate)

Quiet Oaks faces staffing shortages

Shelby Wingate
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
Even though COVID-19 is no longer seen as the unsettling force it once was, Quiet Oaks Health Care continues to face challenges due to the pandemic.    Like other nursing homes, Quiet Oaks is struggling with staffing shortages.
The Medlink Georgia branch in Lexington offers the latest COVID-19 booster. (Submitted Photo)

The Medlink Georgia branch in Lexington offers the latest COVID-19 booster. (Submitted Photo)

Latest COVID-19 booster offered at Medlink Oglethorpe

Andrea Gutierrez
Thursday, September 22, 2022
Various locations in Oglethorpe County offer the updated COVID-19 booster, and local health professionals continue to spread the word about its effectiveness.     The Food and Drug Administration authorized the use of a new booster vaccine for protection against COVID-19 on Aug. 31.
(Graphic/Andy Johnston)

(Graphic/Andy Johnston)

COVID-19 cases on rise in county

Caitlin Farmer
Thursday, July 28, 2022
Oglethorpe County didn’t escape the latest COVID-19 surge.   There were 33 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the county over a two-week period ending July 20, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 County Indicator Report.
Erin Bunch (left) and Kristina Turner wear their masks while they work at a vaccine clinic. (Submitted Photo)

Erin Bunch (left) and Kristina Turner wear their masks while they work at a vaccine clinic. (Submitted Photo)

Nurses help county through pandemic

Morgan Quinn
Thursday, May 5, 2022
Oglethorpe County has no active COVID-19 cases, which Debbie Furbish, chair of the Board of Health, said, is a “testament to all the medical professionals” throughout the county, but a few stand out.