COVID-19 test data by county left off Georgia health department reports due to ‘coding error’
While statewide testing totals were published, the Georgia Department of Public Health reported zero viral tests in every Georgia county Sunday and Monday on its “COVID-19 Over Time - Total Tests” chart due to a coding error, a Georgia Department of Public Health spokesperson told the Ledger-Enquirer.
The issue was fixed Monday evening after the Ledger-Enquirer contacted the state health department regarding the data issue.
What does the data say about Columbus?
Columbus reported fewer than 30 new COVID-19 cases Monday.
According to the latest data release from the Georgia Department of Public Health, 5,466 coronavirus cases and 134 deaths in Columbus have been confirmed since the start of the pandemic. No new deaths were reported Monday.
On Monday, no new viral tests were reported, and Muscogee County’s test positivity rate for the past two weeks is 8.3%. Since the start of the pandemic, 11.3% 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 1,143 (about 21%) of Columbus’ cases. That is the largest portion. Female residents account for 3,093 (57%) of the county’s cases. Black residents account for 2,272 (42%) of Columbus’ cases, while the race of about 1,691 (about 31%) cases is unknown.
People ages 65-74 account for the largest portion of COVID-19 deaths in Muscogee County — 42 deaths (31%). Female residents account for the largest portion of deaths with 74 (55%) overall. Black residents account for 74 (55%) of the county’s coronavirus deaths.
Chattahoochee County reported 39 new cases and no new deaths Monday. Of the county’s 1,175 total cases, 866 (75%) are people between the ages of 15 and 24. Nearly 94% of those infected are male residents.
Residents and soldiers in training who test positive for the novel coronavirus are counted among Chattahoochee County’s totals, officials at Martin Army Community Hospital and the Georgia Department of Public Health previously said.
The county has the highest rate of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people in the state of Georgia, according to data from the state health department. The New York Times reports Chattahoochee County had the fourth-highest number of COVID-19 cases per resident over the past seven days in the United States.
Georgia update
Cases: 270,471 (+1,523 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 2,337 coronavirus cases a week ago on Aug. 24 and 1,843 coronavirus cases two weeks ago on Aug. 17.
Deaths: 5,632 (+28 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 278,200 total antibody tests and 2,343,634 total viral tests (+33,297 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: 1,929. That’s a decrease of 9 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 31, 2020 at 6:06 PM.