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Wednesday, September 15, 2021 - Pike County Journal Reporter - Page 3A URMC offers REGEN-COV Infusions for COVID patients PHOTO BY CLARA WILLIAMS At left, Family Recipe, a photograph by Clara Williams was the People’s Choice photo from the 2019 SlowExposures show. The show returns this year with the main exhibit at the Strickland build ing in Concord from Sept. 16-19 and other programs and shows planned around Pike County throughout the week. 18th SlowExposures highlights the rural south Sept. 16-19 Like much of the state of Georgia, Pike and surrounding counties have been hit hard by the current COVID Delta variant surge. According to Upson Reginal Medi cal Center, vaccination against COVID continues to be the most effective way that spread of this disease can be reduced. In an effort to de crease the incidence of severe COVID disease requiring hospitalization, Upson Regional Medi cal Center now offers REGEN-COV infusion therapy (monoclonal antibodies) at Upson Family Medical Center Northside, Upson Family Physicians Barnesville and Upson Family Physi cians Zebulon. These new clinic loca tions are in addition to the existing monoclonal antibody infusion re source at URMC. If administered within 10 days of onset of COV1D-19 symptoms, the one-time therapy, made up of synthetic proteins designed to mimic the body’s own immune response, is highly ef fective in neutralizing the virus and preventing symptoms from worsen ing. The treatment is administered through intravenous (IV) infusion, and takes approximately 30 minutes followed by a one hour observation period. REGEN-COV has been I tt r approved for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Eligible patients are 12 years or older and have a positive COVID-19 diag nosis with risk of severe disease. A physician or advanced practice pro fessional (PA or NP) must make the referral. Due to the preparation neces sary to prepare for infu sion, appointments must be scheduled - walk-ins cannot be accommo dated. “Studies have shown this therapy to reduce the need for COVID hospitalization by up to two thirds, and shorten the duration of symp toms by up to four days. While REGEN-COV will not prevent COVID from spreading, it can quickly have impact in reducing the number of COVID patients who need hospitalization,” said Upson Regional CEO Jeff Tarrant. “We are thrilled to offer this treatment in three counties within our service area” he added. “The dedication of URMC and our medical professionals is heroic and inspiring. I appreci ate the collaborative re lationship with Upson Regional CEO Jeff Tarrant as we actively advo cated for Pike, Lamar and Upson with the Gover nor’s Office and Georgia Department of Public Health to get life-saving REGEN-COV infusion clinics here locally. This proactive approach will save lives as this treat ment has been shown to lessen the severity of the virus if given early,” said Beth Camp, District 131 State Representative. To schedule a COVID patient for REGEN-COV treatment, a healthcare provider may contact Upson Family Physicians Zebulon at 770-872-5030, Upson Family Physicians Barnesville at 770-358- 3284, Upson Family Medi cal Center Northside at 706-647-2641 or URMC Infusion Clinic at 706-647- 8111, ext 1310. The 18th annual photography festival, SlowExposures will be held September 16-19 at various locations around Pike County with the main exhibit at the Strickland building in Concord. “The show’s theme this year is 2021: We’re Back! We can’t wait to greet photographers and photography lovers from our com munity and all over the country who come to Pike County and the SlowExposures experi ence,” said Chris Curry, co-chair of the Slow Exposures team. “2021 marks the 18th edition of SlowExposures, with over 12 exhibitions that celebrate the beauty, the complexity, and the contradictions of the rural American South. Through the course of the show, visitors take home memories, genuine experiences, inspiration, and, maybe, challenges to long-held assumptions of what constitutes this region.” A complete descrip tion of the shows, pre sentations and events during the weekend can be found at SlowExpo sures.org. This year, the volun teer organizers have established safety protocols to keep show participants as safe as possible. All visitors and show participants will see these precau tions posted at every event’s entry. “Masks will be required at all inside events (including the PopUp and Satellite shows) except when eating meals or drink ing. We ask that every one be courteous of other’s personal space. Whenever possible, our receptions and dinners will be staged out side, pending weather conditions. Seating for presentations in Strick land’s will be set up to allow for sufficient social distancing. We appreciate your cooper ation with these precau tions - let’s all make our contribution to make it safe for everyone to enjoy SlowExposures and get home healthy,” said Curry. The exhibitions are displayed in late nineteenth century buildings in Pike with the main juried show featured at the R.F Strickland community Center located on Main Street in Concord. As visitors “check in” at the show, they will receive a map of the county with all the satellite shows listed, all staged in nontraditional venues in and around the Courthouse Square in Zebulon. Show goers will collect a unique stamp in their “PopUp Passport” at each loca tion to exchange for tickets to participate in the PopUp Raffle at the Saturday Supper. A win ning ticket will entitle the bearer to one of the photographs donated by participating artists. Other events dur ing the weekend will include the Grand Open ing Celebration at 5 p.m. on Friday, a fireside chat with photographer and author Andrew Feiler on his Rosenwald School project, the Sunday Ju rors Talk and a special Photo Book Roundtable. Photographers 17 and younger will present their work in a special exhibit with a reception sponsored by the Pike County Arts Council to close the show. “We’re planning a great reunion, and we look forward to shar ing the SlowExposures experience with every one,” Curry said. SEE YOUR AD HERE: CALL 770-567-3446 SlowExposures Photography of the Rural South SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Thursday, September 16 th 2 pm - 5 pm — Main Exhibition open at Strickland’s Friday, September 17 th 11 am - 7 pm — Main Exhibition, Pop-Up Tour, Print Raffle Display (Strickland’s), and Satellite Shows are open 5 pm - 7 pm — Opening Reception at Strickland’s 7 pm — Photographer and Sponsor’s Soiree at Split Oak Farms (♦Invitation Only) Saturday, September 18 th 9 am - 11 am — Brunch Reception for Robert McCurley at A Novel Experience 11 am - 5 pm — Main Exhibition, Pop-Up Tour, Print Raffle Display (Strickland’s), and Satellite Shows are open 1 pm - 4 pm — Photo Book Signings at Strickland’s 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm — Presentation by Andrew Feiler, author/photographer of “A Better Life for Their Children: Booker T. Washington, and the 4,978 Schools that Changed America 1 ', at Strickland’s September 16-19 Main Show: Strickland Event Center, Concord 6:30 pm - 7 pm — Cocktails at Strickland’s 7 pm - 10 pm — Saturday Supper and Raffle Drawing at Strickland’s (♦Ticketed Event) Sunday, September 19 th 10 am - 11 am — Coffee and Pastries at Strickland’s Plus 12 photography shows around Pike 11 am - Noon — Juror’s Talk at Strickland’s 12 pm - 3 pm — Main Exhibition, Pop-Up Tour, and Satellite Shows are open www.slowexposures.org 2 pm - 3 pm Student’s Show Juror’s Talk and Reception at Strickland’s