Live updates: What you need to know about COVID-19 in Columbus for July 27
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.
Here are the updated COVID-19 numbers for our area as of July 27.
Georgia
Muscogee County and its surrounding areas reported a total of 9,778 cases in the 3 p.m. Monday update from the Georgia Department of Public Health. 286 deaths have now been reported in the area.
Here’s a breakdown by county of total cases, deaths and hospitalizations:
- Muscogee: 3893, 75, 411
Troup: 2090, 52, 227
- Sumter: 698, 55, 165
Chattahoochee: 509, 1, 9
Harris: 567, 14, 62
- Crisp: 348, 14, 52
Meriwether: 323, 5, 42
- Dooly: 231, 14, 46
Stewart: 239, 5, 48
- Randolph: 235, 26, 40
Macon: 161, 10, 37
Marion: 126, 4, 15
Talbot: 121, 3, 18
- Clay: 69, 2, 6
- Taylor: 62, 2, 13
Webster: 36, 2, 7
- Schley: 45, 1, 7
Quitman: 25, 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 coronavirus cases in Alabama has now reached 79,129 according to the Alabama Department of Public Health’s dashboard at 3:07 p.m. EST Monday.
The number of reported cases in Lee County stands at 2,286 while Russell County’s total stands at 1,081.
There have been 655,973 tests performed statewide. The state reported 1,466 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 27, the state reported 32,510 presumed recoveries throughout Alabama.
To view the full list of Alabama COVID-19 cases, click here.
2 Muscogee jail inmates test positive for COVID-19
Two Muscogee County Jail inmates have tested positive for COVID-19 and authorities are awaiting test results on three more who have shown symptoms, Sheriff Donna Tompkins said Friday.
Tompkins said all five inmates had been housed in the same dormitory. The two testing positive have been isolated together, as have the three awaiting results, she said.
Harris County School District changes mask policy for students, employees
The Harris County School District has changed its policy about whether and when students and employees must wear masks when the fall 2020 semester opens amid the coronavirus pandemic.
During the school board’s meeting Thursday night, the board approved the following protocols:
- When unable to socially distance by at least six feet, all faculty and staff must wear a mask. A face shield also may be worn but can’t replace a face covering.
- All students and employees must wear a mask on a school bus.
- In grades 5-12, when unable to socially distance by at least 6 feet, all students must wear a mask.
- In prekindergarten through fourth grade, all students are encouraged to wear a mask.
- Exceptions will be guided by special-education plans and medical directives.
- Masks won’t be required during breakfast and lunch.
Can’t get a COVID-19 test in Muscogee County? Here’s what to do
If you’re experiencing a long wait time to make an appointment for coronavirus testing in Muscogee County, here’s what steps you should take next.
If you can’t immediately get a COVID-19 test at the Muscogee County Health Department, you may want to get a test at a private testing site. Some testing sites have criteria for who can get tested and not all are free. It is recommended you call ahead for the most up-to-date information.
If you have had contact with someone who tested positive for coronavirus, you should stay home for 14 days and follow the Georgia Department of Public Health’s Quarantine Guidance. Even if you don’t currently have symptoms, you may still have the virus and could spread it to others.
What’s it like as a D1 football recruit during a global pandemic?
Mykel Williams misses the constant phone calls and text messages that come with being a top high school football recruit.
Williams, a towering 6-foot-5 defensive end for Hardaway High School, has picked up his fair share of collegiate offers. The list of schools that want the Columbus native would make any recruit jealous: Alabama, Clemson and Auburn are among the 24 offers he’s picked up. Williams is only a rising junior.
But Williams, like his teammates and other major recruits around the nation, had to press pause on preparing for the upcoming season when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
This story was originally published July 27, 2020 at 12:16 PM.
