COVID-19 rates keep rising in areas around Columbus. What to know about latest data
Counties to the south of Columbus continue to report some of the nation’s highest rates of recent COVID-19 cases while Muscogee County itself reported fewer than 20 cases Friday.
Chattahoochee and Stewart counties have reported some of the highest numbers of new COVID-19 cases per resident in the United States the past seven days, the New York Times reports.
Chattahoochee reported 22 new cases Friday, bringing its total to 1,088. Of those, 1,016 (93%) are male. People ages 15-24 account for 812 (75%) of the cases. Residents and soldiers in training at Fort Benning who test positive for the novel coronavirus are counted among Chattahoochee’s totals, health officials have previously told the Ledger-Enquirer.
No new deaths were reported Friday. A total of two coronavirus-related deaths have been confirmed in the county since the start of the pandemic.
As of noon Friday, Chattahoochee County ranked third for recent COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people in the nation, according to the New York Times. The Georgia Department of Public Health reports Chattahoochee County has the highest rate of COVID-19 in Georgia: 10,121.87 cases per 100,000 people.
But officials at Martin Army Community Hospital told the Ledger-Enquirer that recruits and some others who arrive at Benning aren’t counted among the county’s population, which has the effect of raising the county’s case rate. The state health department has not responded to the Ledger-Enquirer regarding the rate.
Stewart County reported 18 new cases Friday afternoon. It ranked 30th in the U.S. for the number of recently reported COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of noon Friday. A total of 353 cases have been confirmed. No new deaths were reported Friday. A total of 11 coronavirus-related deaths have been confirmed in Stewart County to date.
Stewart County is also home to the Stewart Detention Center, one of the largest facilities housing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees. Two detainees held at Stewart have died of coronavirus complications since May.
Muscogee County updates
According to the latest data from the Georgia Department of Public Health, 5,402 coronavirus cases and 129 deaths in Columbus have been confirmed since the start of the pandemic.
Muscogee reported 18 new cases and three new deaths Friday. This is the second time this week fewer than 20 confirmed infections were reported.
On Friday, 269 viral tests were reported, and Muscogee County’s test positivity rate for the past two weeks is 8.4%. Since the start of the pandemic, 11.4% of Muscogee County’s tests have been positive. The World Health Organization’s recommended test positivity percentage is 5% or less to properly track outbreaks and locate milder cases of the disease.
The Georgia Geospatial Information Office, using data provided by the Georgia Department of Public Health, breaks down the county’s cases and deaths by age, sex, race and ethnicity.
According to the data, adults ages 25 to 34 account for 1,128 (about 21%) of Columbus’ cases. That is the largest portion. Female residents account for 3,058 (57%) of the county’s cases. Black residents account for 2,245 (42%) of Columbus’ cases, while the race of about 1,688 (31%) cases is unknown.
People ages 65-74 account for the largest portion of COVID-19 deaths in Muscogee County — 41 deaths (32%). Female residents account for the largest portion of deaths with 71 (55%) overall. Black residents account for 70 (54%) of the county’s coronavirus deaths.
Georgia update
Cases: 265,372 (+2,383 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.
Georgia reported 2,989 coronavirus cases a week ago on Aug. 21, and 3,320 coronavirus cases two weeks ago on Aug. 14.
Deaths: 5,471 (+79 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 273,911 total antibody tests and 2,286,984 total viral tests (+18,147 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: 2,081. That’s a decrease of 48 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.
This story was originally published August 28, 2020 at 4:33 PM.