Coronavirus updates: Lee County, Alabama up to 16, plus other news for March 22
As COVID-19 continues to impact local schools, business and governments, the Ledger-Enquirer is working to keep our readers informed about decisions that will impact them. This list will be updated throughout the day. If there’s an item you believe should be included in this list, please email newsroom@ledger-enquirer.com.
Here is what you need to know about how the novel coronavirus is affecting the Columbus area:
Lee County reports 16 COVID-19 cases
Lee County has 16 confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Sunday afternoon, state health officials said. Lee County reported four additional confirmed cases Sunday, two in the morning and two in the afternoon.
Alabama has 157 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, with a majority of cases found in the Birmingham area. For a full list, click here.
Columbus remains at two COVID-19 cases
As of noon Sunday, no new COVID-19 cases were reported in Columbus, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health.
The department confirmed 600 cases and 23 deaths related to the novel coronavirus. No additional cases were reported in Troup, Randolph or Sumter counties. For a full breakdown, click here.
State health officials reported Muscogee County’s second confirmed case of COVID-19 Saturday at 7 p.m. during a regularly scheduled update. The county’s first case was confirmed Thursday, and both have some connection to Fort Benning.
Fort Benning officials in a news release Saturday said the newest patient is a Benning “family member” who traveled overseas and returned to Georgia in early March. The patient was tested and has quarantined at home since March 12, the release said. The test results came back positive Saturday.
The county’s first case was reported by St. Francis-Emory Healthcare Thursday. Benning’s Martin Army Community Hospital offered new details on the county’s first case. Hospital officials said Saturday in a Facebook post that patient was transferred from its hospital to the St. Francis ICU but did not specify when.
News station reports employee’s girlfriend COVID-19 case
The girlfriend of an employee at Columbus news station WLTZ has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, according to station management.
In a statement on their website March 21, the news station said the employee has also been tested and is awaiting results.
“As a result, and although the employee works remotely in most cases (but not all), WLTZ is taking even more precautionary measures to ensure the safety of the remainder of the WLTZ staff. The WLTZ facilities are being deep cleaned by an industrial cleaning company and all personnel who can work from home have been instructed to do so,” a portion of the statement reads.
It’s unclear what state or county the employee’s girlfriend resides in. Attempts to contact the news station’s general manager were not returned. Pam Kirkland, spokesperson for the West Central Health District, did not know where the woman lived.
Georgia COVID-19 cases continue to rise
As of noon Sunday, state health officials report 600 confirmed cases and 23 deaths related to COVID-19. At 7 p.m. Saturday, Georgia reported 555 confirmed cases and 20 deaths.
This story was originally published March 22, 2020 at 9:40 AM.