Coronavirus in Columbus: Health department opens new location, plus latest case numbers
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. Check back for more updates throughout the day.
COVID-19 case counts for the area
GEORGIA
Muscogee County and its surrounding areas reported a total of 5,930 cases in the 3 p.m. Wednesday update from the Georgia Department of Public Health, an increase of 167 since Tuesday.
217 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: 1741, 49, 244
Troup: 1464, 34, 155
- Sumter: 557, 50, 150
Chattahoochee: 413, 0, 7
Harris: 336, 9, 41
- Crisp: 274, 12, 45
- Dooly: 209, 12, 43
- Randolph: 200, 25, 36
Meriwether: 187, 3, 23
Stewart: 129, 3, 30
- Macon: 116, 9, 36
Marion: 82, 2, 12
Talbot: 73, 2, 14
- Clay: 57, 2, 5
- Taylor: 28, 2, 10
- Schley: 25, 1, 7
Webster: 22, 1, 6
- 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 38,442 according to the Alabama Department of Public Health’s dashboard at 3:30 p.m. EST Wednesday.
The number of reported cases in Lee County stands at 1,189 while Russell County’s total stands at 484.
There have been 413,433 tests performed statewide. The state reported 947 total COVID-19-related deaths as of Wednesday.
The state of Alabama reports the number of presumed recoveries from COVID-19 on a weekly basis. On July 1, the state reported 18,866 presumed recoveries throughout Alabama.
To view the full list of Alabama COVID-19 cases, click here.
Groome Transportation reopening in Columbus
Groome Transportation is reopening in Columbus on July 15.
The company is resuming a frequent schedule of round-trip service between Columbus and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport following a steady increase in air travel.
Feeding the Valley holding fresh produce market
Feeding the Valley Food Bank is holding a fresh produce pop-up market tomorrow, July 2 at Cascade Hills Church. According to their Facebook page, the market is drive-thru style and will be held from 9 a.m. until there is no more produce. The church is located at 757 54th Street in Columbus.
Columbus Health Department opens new location
The Columbus Health Department officially opened the doors of its new location at 5601 Veterans Parkway on Wednesday, but officials say COVID-19 testing will remain at the old location.Until further notice, testing will continue to be available at the 2100 Comer Avenue location from 7-11 a.m. Monday through Friday, according to Pam Kirkland, public relations and information coordinator with the West Central Health District. There will be no testing on Saturday, July 4. According to Kirkland, services that have moved to the new building include:
- General clinic
- Dental clinic
- District clinical services (including HIV testing and treatment)
- WIC
- Vital records
- Services for children and youth with special needs
All administrative offices, human resources and environmental health will remain at the old location. Because of COVID-19, most departments and programs are appointment-only. ]The phone number to the health department remains the same at 706-321-6300.
The Chattahoochee Valley Libraries re-open for curbside service after brief closure
The Chattahoochee Valley Libraries (CVL) are re-instating its touch-free Curbside pickup of reserved library materials, effective July 1.
CVL had closed briefly in response to library staff member testing positive for COVID-19. During the closure, libraries where the affected staff member worked received an additional round of disinfectant cleaning. The library staff member will remain in quarantine under established Georgia Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control guidelines, according to the library.
Service will resume at the following times:
- 10 a.m. Wednesday for the Columbus Public Library and the South Columbus Public Library in Columbus, and the Marion County Public Library in Buena Vista.
- 9:30 a.m. Thursday for the Parks Memorial Public Library in Richland.
- 10 a.m. Thursday for the Mildred L. Terry Public Library and North Columbus Public Library in Columbus, and the Cusseta-Chattahoochee Public Library in Cusseta.
