Georgia reports largest single-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 deaths
The Georgia Department of Public Health reported 209,004 cumulative COVID-19 cases Friday, up by 4,177 new cases in 24 hours.
Here are some key takeaways from the latest data:
Cases: 209,004 (+4,177 reported today). The number of new cases reported in a day may not match the difference in total cases over a 24-hour period. This occurs because previously reported cases may be removed as duplicate reports are corrected. An older confirmed case may also be reclassified as additional information is collected during an investigation.
Deaths: 4,117 (+92 deaths in 24 hours). That is the largest single-day increase in reported coronavirus-related deaths since the start of the pandemic. It’s important to note that these numbers indicate when deaths are reported to the Georgia Department of Public Health. It does not reflect when these deaths occurred.
Tests: Georgia reported 236,570 total antibody tests and 1,753,129 total viral tests (+28,367 new viral tests in 24 hours). These totals don’t account for tests that are not reported through the state’s electronic lab reporting system.
Current COVID hospitalizations: 2,981. That’s a decrease of 25 patients in 24 hours. The count includes any patient in a Georgia hospital who has tested positive for COVID-19 at the time of the report. This count does not include patients who are being investigated for possible infection by health officials.
Current COVID hospitalizations have decreased each day since August 3 when 3,111 patients were reported. This is the first time the state has had less than 3,000 current COVID-19 hospitalizations since July 18.
Total COVID hospitalizations: 20,282, an increase of 280 in 24 hours.
Hospital capacity: As of Thursday, 87% of the state’s critical care beds are full. Not all critical care beds in the state are filled with COVID-19 patients. Some regions have less than 10 critical care beds available. Region H, which includes some Middle Georgia counties such as Baldwin, Laurens and Twiggs, has 2 critical care beds left. Not every patient in a critical care bed has COVID-19.
Cases per 100,000: Chattahoochee (6,847.15), Echols (5,542.96), Stewart (4,160.55), Randolph (3,968.02) and Hancock (3,759.31) counties have the highest coronavirus rates per 100,000 people in the state.
The health department is not reporting how many Georgians have recovered.
For a complete county-by-county list, visit the Georgia Department of Public Health’s website.
Regional update
▪ Muscogee County reported 4,595 COVID-19 cases, an increase of 81 cases in 24 hours. The county reported 94 coronavirus-related deaths, an increase of four in 24 hours.
▪ In Middle Georgia, Bibb County reported 3,473 cases, up 78 cases in 24 hours. The county reported 67 coronavirus-related deaths, an increase of one in 24 hours.
▪ Fulton County reports the highest number of cases in the state at 19,647.
Georgia health department announces new ‘mega’ COVID-19 test site
The Georgia Department of Public Health on Friday announced a new testing site with the ability to test 5,000 people a day will open Aug. 10 near the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
The state health department said in a news release that the testing site is the result of a partnership with Gov. Brian Kemp, U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams, the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) and Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
The site is located at 800 Sullivan Road, College Park, Georgia. The site is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. from Aug. 10 through Aug. 26. Testing is available to all Georgians regardless of symptoms. However, appointments and online registrations are recommended.
The test is free to all Georgians regardless of their county of residence. The tests are self-administered nasal swabs, and results will be available in 48-72 hours, according to the news release.
To register online and to make an appointment go to: https://www.doineedacovid19test.com/.