Coronavirus in Columbus: News and numbers for the Chattahoochee Valley on June 30
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information and numbers regarding the coronavirus in the Chattahoochee Valley.
Georgia’s coronavirus case totals update each day at 3 p.m.
COVID-19 case counts for the area
GEORGIA
Muscogee County and its surrounding areas reported a total of 5,763 cases in the 3 p.m. Tuesday update from the Georgia Department of Public Health, an increase of 258 since Monday.
212 total deaths were reported in the area, an increase of five since yesterday.
Here’s a breakdown by county of total cases, deaths and hospitalizations:
- Muscogee: 1679, 47, 226
Troup: 1398, 32, 147
- Sumter: 554, 50, 150
Chattahoochee: 410, 0, 7
Harris: 324, 9, 37
- Crisp: 273, 12, 45
- Dooly: 210, 12, 43
- Randolph: 197, 25, 36
Meriwether: 183, 2, 22
- Macon: 115, 9, 36
Stewart: 119, 3, 24
- Marion: 79, 2, 12
Talbot: 73, 2, 14
- Clay: 57, 2, 5
- Taylor: 28, 2, 10
- Schley: 25, 1, 7
Webster: 22, 1, 5
- Quitman: 17, 1, 5
A full county-by-county breakdown from the Georgia Department of Public Health can be found here.
Georgia’s West-Central Health District covers 16 counties: Chattahoochee, Clay, Crisp, Dooly, Harris, Macon, Marion, Muscogee, Quitman, Randolph, Schley, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taylor and Webster.
Troup and Meriwether counties are not in the West-Central Health District but because of their proximity to Columbus, the Ledger-Enquirer will track those numbers as well.
ALABAMA
The number of novel coronavirus cases in Alabama has now reached 37,536 according to the Alabama Department of Public Health’s dashboard at 3:30 p.m. EST Tuesday.
The number of reported cases in Lee County stands at 1,167 while Russell County’s total stands at 469.
There have been 406,143 tests performed statewide. The state reported 926 total COVID-19-related deaths as of Tuesday.
The state of Alabama reports the number of presumed recoveries from COVID-19 on a weekly basis. On June 29 the state reported 18,866 presumed recoveries throughout Alabama.
To view the full list of Alabama COVID-19 cases, click here.
Chattahoochee Valley Libraries temporarily suspends curbside pickup
The Chattahoochee Valley Libraries is temporarily suspending curbside pickup of library materials beginning June 30 after learning that a staff member tested positive for COVID-19.
Staff members who had close contact with the employee are being asked to quarantine for 14 days as recommended by the CDC. CVL will be working closely with a professional cleaning service to perform intensive cleanings at all locations, according to the organization.
During this time Library staff will continue offering virtual programming, and customers can check out a variety of digital materials via the library website at www.cvlga.org
What will MCSD schools look like amid COVID-19?
Parents and guardians in the Muscogee County School District will be able to choose whether their children return to in-person instruction at reopened schools or remain at home for remote learning, according to the superintendent’s plan presented to the school board Monday via video conference.
Employees also will have that option, according to the plan.
Kemp signs new COVID-19 executive orders, will tour Georgia to promote mask use
Gov. Brian Kemp signed two new COVID-19 executive orders Monday, and he will tour the state asking Georgians to mask up to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Columbus hospitals won’t release COVID-19 patient numbers. Here’s what the Georgia data tells us
Columbus hospitals have repeatedly refused to release any of their COVID-19 hospitalization data to the public. Hospitalization data reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health and the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency has its limitations.
Columbus area hospitals haven’t reached their bed capacity. But available data analyzed by the Ledger-Enquirer shows total COVID-19 hospitalizations for Muscogee County residents more than doubled from June 1 to June 28. The increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations comes as newly-reported cases in Georgia rise to their highest levels since the beginning of the pandemic.
This story was originally published June 30, 2020 at 11:40 AM.
