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DeKalb County police hand out 10,000 COVID-19 kits to families

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Some people in DeKalb County who went grocery shopping Wednesday are going home with two free masks and a bottle of hand sanitizer.

DeKalb County police gave out 10,000 COVID-19 care kits at a Walmart in Lithonia.

Over the last five months, officers have given out over 80,000 COVID-19 care kits at multiple locations all over the county.

CEO Michael Thurmond says they brought back the kits because of the spike in cases we’re seeing in Georgia.

As of Tuesday, there are more than 400,000 confirmed cases and 8,600 deaths in the state. In DeKalb there are more than 25,000 cases and 429 deaths.

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This week the CDC issued a stern warning encouraging people to take the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the virus this Thanksgiving holiday.

Shoppers who received the COVID-19 kits said this was very proactive for the county leaders to do.

“I think it’s really good, especially right now, because everybody’s about to get together and everybody got to stay safe, so it works,” said Decatur resident Trina Fields.

Thurmond says they’ve also activated a code red to text alert residents to be safe during the holidays. The alert urged families: not to travel; wear a mask; host gatherings outdoors; wash your hands frequently, and practice social distancing.

Also, Thurmond wants people to get tested for COVID-19 after Thanksgiving.