Nearly 2,000 coronavirus cases reported in Georgia, the most ever in a single day
The Georgia Department of Public Health reported nearly 73,000 cumulative COVID-19 cases Friday.
Here are some key takeaways:
- Cases: 72,995 (+1,900 in 24 hours). That’s the largest increase in a 24-hour period to date. For five straight days, Georgia has reported more than 1,000 new coronavirus cases. On four of those days, Georgia reported more than 1,700 new cases. McClatchy measures new cases by subtracting the total number of infections reported at 3 p.m. from the total number of infections reported the previous day at 3 p.m. This reflects when confirmed cases are reported to the state.
- Georgia’s seven-day average for COVID-19 cases continues to climb. The average as of June 26 is 1,569.43 cases per day, the highest to date. “We are seeing case numbers increase as people are out and moving around more, and not adhering to guidelines for social distancing, wearing face coverings in public and frequent handwashing,” said Nancy Nydam, spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Public Health.
- Deaths: 2,770 (+25 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: 920,114. This number includes 149,086 antibody tests and 771,028 viral tests (+13,104 new 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: 1,184. That’s an increase of 49 patients in 24 hours. This count does not include patients who are being investigated for possible infection by health officials.
- The number of current COVID-19 hospitalizations has increased every day since June 14. Current hospitalizations are at their highest total since May 8, but below the high of 1,500 reported current hospitalizations on May 1. The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency began publishing this data May 1.
- Cases per 100,000: Echols (4,535.15), Chattahoochee (3,656.15), Randolph (2,916.79), Terrell (2,645.57) and Hancock (2,563.16) 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
- Muscogee County reported 1,454 total cases Friday (up 26 cases in 24 hours). As of June 26, 43 coronavirus-related deaths have been confirmed in Muscogee, an increase of three in 24 hours.
- Troup County reported 1,277 total cases, an increase of 44 cases since Thursday. As of June 26, 31 coronavirus-related deaths have been confirmed in Troup, an increase of two in 24 hours.
- In Middle Georgia, Bibb County reported 702 cases, up 38 cases from Thursday. As of June 26, 38 coronavirus-related deaths have been confirmed in Bibb. No new deaths were reported.
- Houston County reported 562 cases, an increase of 17 cases in 24 hours. As of June 26, 23 coronavirus-related deaths have been confirmed in Houston. No new deaths were reported.
- Gwinnett County reports the highest number of cases in the state, at 7,463.
Kemp says no plans for mandatory mask requirements, new restrictions
Hours before Friday’s report published, Kemp said he doesn’t plan to mandate the use of masks or impose new coronavirus restrictions.
“I’m certainly not imposing new restrictions right now. I think what we have on the books has done very well for us,” he told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “We’re not letting our guard down. ...We’ve got to continue to fight the fight hard every day. We’ve got to continue to jump on the hotspots.”
Kemp said mandating masks was a “bridge too far for me right now” though the governor and state health officials have encouraged Georgians to wear face coverings. He said he was concerned there was no widespread “public buy-in” for a mask-wearing requirement.
“There’s some people that just do not want to wear a mask. I’m sensitive to that from a political environment of having people buy into that, and creating other issues out there,” he said. “But it’s definitely a good idea.”
Read more about Kemp’s comments here.
This story was originally published June 26, 2020 at 3:58 PM.