Sheriff Johnny Moats is asking for prayers from the community for at least 10 employees who are suffering from COVID-19 at this time, along with one who is in intensive care.

Moats said that Sgt. Barry Henderson remains in intensive care with other COVID-19 patients at Northside Hospital in Atlanta after he fell ill with the virus. He’s especially asking for the community’s well wishes and support for Henderson, a longtime officer with the Sheriff’s Office.

Henderson is a member of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Gang Investigation Unit, and works in the community as a deputy on the road as well.

He said an additional five employees are waiting for test results to come back, but are believed positive at this time.

Those 10 employees – a mix of deputies and jailers – have all contracted COVID-19 no more than the past two weeks, and Moats said everyone remains out of work at this time.

The Sheriff’s Office is not the only agency facing the loss of people due to the virus in recent days.

The County Police have had nine different officers and staff members out since November, and currently one is sick and another in quarantine with a child who contracted the virus, per Chief Kenny Dodd.

The Rockmart Police Department is down two officers at this time with COVID according to Chief Randy Turner.

Fortunately, the Cedartown Police Department does not have any COVID-related absences of officers at this time, per Chief Jamie Newsome. Neither does Rockmart Fire and Rescue, and Redmond EMS Director Marty Robinson reported back following this publication that he had two in his department out with COVID as well.

Though it might seem like just a handful of cases, these are agencies who are already short-staffed prior to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. When additional staff members are out with the virus – or seriously ill like Sgt. Henderson – it becomes a real concern for command staff trying to fill in gaps in manpower.

COVID-19 cases today increased by a record-breaking 75 cases, the second day in a row that local figures broke a record since tracking began. Another four people were hospitalized and one death were also reported today.