Georgia nears 2,500 total COVID-19 related deaths. Here are the latest 24-hour trends
The Georgia Department of Public Health reported nearly 59,000 cumulative COVID-19 cases in its 3 p.m. update Monday.
Here are some key takeaways:
- Cases: 58,414 (+733 in 24 hours).
- Deaths: 2,494 (+43 deaths in 24 hours). It’s important to note that these numbers indicate when deaths are reported to the Georgia Department of Public Health. It does not reflect when these deaths occurred.
- Tests: 742,956. This number includes 117,901 antibody tests and 625,055 viral tests (+9,589 viral tests in 24 hours). These totals don’t account for tests that are not reported through the state’s electronic lab reporting system.
- Current Hospitalizations: 865. That’s an increase of 36 patients in 24 hours. This count does not include patients who are being investigated for possible infections by health officials.
- Cases per 100,000: Echols (4056.44), Randolph (2827.95), Terrell (2574.7), Early (2513.31) and Hancock (2465.52) counties have the highest coronavirus rates per 100,000 people in the state.
- The health department is not reporting how many Georgians have recovered.
For a complete county-by-county list, visit the Georgia Department of Public Health’s website.
Regional updates
- Cases in the Columbus area continue to rise. Muscogee County reported 1,022 cases Monday (up 16 cases in 24 hours). Columbus topped 1,000 COVID-19 cases Sunday. As of June 15, 28 coronavirus-related deaths have been confirmed in Muscogee, an increase of two in 24 hours.
- Chattahoochee County reported 252 COVID-19 cases Monday, an increase of one from Sunday. There were only 39 confirmed infections May 29, according to data from the Georgia Department of Public Health. Chattahoochee ranks in the top 10 in Georgia for cases per 100,000 people. The New York Times reports the county ranks fifth nationally for the highest number of recent cases per resident, but no coronavirus-related deaths have been confirmed in Chattahoochee.
- Troup County reported 792 cases Monday, an increase of 33 in 24 hours. Since June 9, 316 new coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Troup.
- Bibb County reported 542 cases, up ten from Sunday. Houston County reported 446 cases, an increase of 15 cases.
- Gwinnett County reports the highest number of cases in the state, at 5,308.
Georgia tested nearly all of its nursing home residents
Gov. Brian Kemp said in a news release Friday that 97% of residents at Georgia nursing homes with 25 beds or more have been tested for the novel coronavirus.
As of June 11, 6,259 long-term care facility residents had tested positive for COVID-19 and 1,120 had died. At the time, they accounted for about 11% of the state’s confirmed coronavirus cases and 47% of its deaths, according to data provided by the Georgia Department of Public Health and the Georgia Department of Community Health.
“Nursing homes and all long-term care facilities remain critically important battlegrounds in our fight against COVID-19,” Kemp said in a statement.
Priority testing for Georgia’s first responders
Georgia officials announced Monday that first responders will receive priority COVID-19 testing. First responders can go to any state-run sample collection site, show their official ID and be tested.
There is no need to set up an appointment, officials said.
“We’ve been working to ensure that every Georgian has access to testing,” Dr. Kathleen Toomey, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Health, said in a statement. “Making sure our first responders have quick access to testing helps keep them healthy as they care for their communities.”
This story was originally published June 15, 2020 at 3:52 PM.