Georgia reports fewer than 2,000 new COVID cases for second straight day
The Georgia Department of Public Health reported 238,861 cumulative COVID-19 cases Monday, up by more than 1,843 new cases in 24 hours.
Here are some key takeaways from the latest data:
Cases: 238,861 (+1,843 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. It’s the second straight day Georgia has reported fewer than 2,000 new cases, the first time that has happened since June.
Deaths: 4,727 (+25 deaths in 24 hours). 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 257,747 total antibody tests and 2,027,417 total viral tests (+24,429 viral tests in 24 hours). These totals don’t account for tests that are not reported through the state’s electronic lab reporting system.
Johns Hopkins University reports since Aug. 11, the number of tests per 1,000 people in Georgia has declined. As of Aug. 16, Georgia performed 2.3 tests per 1,000 people. Georgia performed 3.1 coronavirus tests per 1,000 on Aug. 11. Georgia’s test positivity rate was above 10% as of Aug. 16. The World Health Organization’s recommended test positivity percentage is 5%.
“A positivity rate over 5% indicates a state may only be testing the sickest patients who seek out medical care, and are not casting a wide enough net to identify milder cases and track outbreaks,” Johns Hopkins University reports.
Current COVID hospitalizations: 2,626. That’s an increase of 23 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.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports Georgia had 3,610 current hospital patients in an inpatient bed with confirmed or suspected coronavirus infections as of Aug. 16. Representatives for the Georgia Department of Public Health previously said that federal data includes some long-term acute care and rehabilitation facilities, while state data is only from acute care hospitals.
Total COVID hospitalizations: 22,133, an increase of 46 in 24 hours.
Hospital capacity: As of Sunday, 83% 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 I, which includes Muscogee and other Columbus area counties, had 11 critical care beds left. Not every patient in a critical care bed has COVID-19.
Cases per 100,000: Chattahoochee (7,535.58), Echols (5,694.13), Stewart (4,486.87), Appling (4,331.66) and Atkins (4,285.71) counties have the highest coronavirus rates per 100,000 people in the state.
For a complete county-by-county list, visit the Georgia Department of Public Health’s website. The health department is not reporting how many Georgians have recovered
Regional update
▪ Muscogee County reported 5,092 COVID-19 cases, an increase of 26 cases in 24 hours. The county reported 110 coronavirus-related deaths. One new deaths were reported.
▪ In Middle Georgia, Bibb County reported 4,134 cases, up 73 cases in 24 hours. The county reported 84 coronavirus-related deaths, an increase of one in 24 hours.
▪ Fulton County reports the highest number of cumulative cases in the state at 22,107
This story was originally published August 17, 2020 at 4:05 PM.