Albany leaders reflect on COVID-19 impact in annual report

ALBANY, Ga. – City of Albany leaders reflecting on the impact COVID-19 has had on the community in the annual report to the city.

“I think this is a time we need to reflect on this year, and what we have lost and the sacrifices this community has made,” said Mayor Bo Dorough during the city’s commission meeting Tuesday.

COVID-19 overwhelmed Dougherty County and Albany beyond any predictions back in March.

“2020 will go down in history as one of the most challenging of our lifetimes,” said city manager Sharon Subadan.

Dougherty County became a worldwide hotspot for the virus in March and since then around 200 residents have lost their fight against the novel virus. 

However, Subadan says the city acted swiftly and aggressively early on to meet new demands that came out as a result of the pandemic.

“I’m pleased to be able to report that as we look back on 2020 team Albany continues to be strong and resilient.”

City operations have remained in tact, working behind the scenes to help guide residents through the pandemic.

“We have had 48 press conferences, 73 COVID-19 task force meetings, hundreds of Zoom meetings and many of us are on weekly calls, weekly meetings with our state partners trying to gather information to help our community.”

But as the pandemic rages on, Subadan says support will persist as well. In the coming weeks, The city’s Eviction Prevention Program is distributing hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding.

“Almost $300,000 happening in January because as the eviction moratorium comes to an end we know there’s going to be several thousand people that could be facing eviction.”