Coronavirus updates: MCSD reconsiders school reopening date, plus more news in Columbus
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.
Area COVID-19 numbers for July 15
GEORGIA
Muscogee County and its surrounding areas reported a total of 8,281 cases in the 3 p.m. Wednesday update from the Georgia Department of Public Health. That’s an increase of 192 since Tuesday.
251 total deaths were reported in the area, an increase of four since yesterday.
Here’s a breakdown by county of total cases, deaths and hospitalizations:
- Muscogee: 3061, 64, 324
Troup: 1802, 39, 195
- Sumter: 642, 52, 155
Chattahoochee: 490, 1, 8
Harris: 477, 13, 51
- Crisp: 322, 13, 46
Meriwether: 262, 3, 29
- Dooly: 225, 13, 45
Stewart: 233, 4, 49
- Randolph: 214, 25, 37
Macon: 146, 10, 36
Marion: 105, 3, 13
Talbot: 97, 3, 15
- Clay: 64, 2, 5
- Taylor: 47, 2, 12
Webster: 34, 2, 7
- Schley: 37, 1, 7
Quitman: 23, 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 58,225 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 1,793 while Russell County’s total stands at 761.
There have been 540,207 tests performed statewide. The state reported 1,183 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 July 15, the state reported 29,736 presumed recoveries throughout Alabama.
To view the full list of Alabama COVID-19 cases, click here.
Columbus State faculty push for online classes this fall
As coronavirus cases rise in the region, more than 100 Columbus State University faculty members have signed an open letter to University System of Georgia officials, calling for online instruction as the “default mode” for classes.
They acknowledge “other modes of instruction” might be needed “for those disciplines that need it and may feasibly do so safely,” but they insist conditions must be met before most classes return to in-person learning on campus during the fall 2020 semester.
MCSD reconsiders school reopening date after board debate
The Muscogee County School District is now evaluating when it would reopen for the 2020-21 academic year as coronavirus continues to surge in Columbus.
No decision was evident from Monday night’s monthly work session, conducted via video conference, but the school board’s debate came back to this point: The spike in local COVID-19 cases has caused enough concern for the administration to reconsider its plan.
Christmas Made in the South canceled for 2020
Christmas Made in the South Festivals have been canceled for 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Made in the South Shows.
“It is a sad state for all but we are already planning for our 2021 season and expect to be back stronger and more exciting than ever,” a statement on the company’s website reads.
This story was originally published July 15, 2020 at 10:03 AM.
