Coronavirus updates: Gov. Kemp bans local mask mandates, 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 16
GEORGIA
Muscogee County and its surrounding areas reported a total of 8,395 cases in the 3 p.m. Thursday update from the Georgia Department of Public Health. That’s an increase of 114 since Tuesday.
251 total deaths were reported in the area, with no increase since yesterday.
Here’s a breakdown by county of total cases, deaths and hospitalizations:
- Muscogee: 3142, 64, 324
Troup: 1815, 39, 195
- Sumter: 649, 52, 155
Chattahoochee: 492, 1, 8
Harris: 481, 13, 51
- Crisp: 324, 13, 46
Meriwether: 266, 3, 29
- Dooly: 224, 13, 45
Stewart: 231, 4, 49
- Randolph: 220, 25, 37
Macon: 147, 10, 36
Marion: 105, 3, 13
Talbot: 101, 3, 15
- Clay: 65, 2, 5
- Taylor: 46, 2, 12
Webster: 34, 2, 7
- Schley: 30, 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 60,158 according to the Alabama Department of Public Health’s dashboard at 3:30 p.m. EST Thursday.
The number of reported cases in Lee County stands at 1,861 while Russell County’s total stands at 811.
There have been 550,179 tests performed statewide. The state reported 1,200 total COVID-19-related deaths as of Thursday.
The state of Alabama reports the number of presumed recoveries from COVID-19 on a weekly basis. On July 16, the state reported 29,736 presumed recoveries throughout Alabama.
To view the full list of Alabama COVID-19 cases, click here.
Four Columbus friars test positive for COVID-19
Four friars associated with St. Anne Catholic Church in Columbus have tested positive for COVID-19, according to church officials.
Weekday masses and confessions are canceled until further notice.
Kemp extends COVID-19 restrictions in Georgia
Gov. Brian Kemp has again extended a set of coronavirus restrictions as cases and hospitalizations continue to rise across the state of Georgia.
Kemp’s newest order also states local mask mandates are not allowed because they are “more restrictive” than the governor’s edict.
Alabama governor orders statewide mask mandate
Alabama’s governor on Wednesday announced a statewide mask mandate as COVID-19 numbers continue to rise.
Saying “numbers don’t lie,” Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said her executive order will be in effect from 5 p.m. Thursday through July 31.
Masks must be worn in three different places outlined in the order:
- A vehicle operated by a transportation service.
- An indoor space available to the public.
- An outdoor space where 10 or more people are gathered.
This story was originally published July 16, 2020 at 9:48 AM.
