Stewart County reports largest increase in COVID-19 cases in nearly two weeks

Stewart County, about 40 miles south of Columbus, on Thursday reported its highest single-day increase in new coronavirus cases since August 28, according to the latest update from Georgia’s Department of Public Health.

Sixteen new COVID-19 cases were reported on Thursday along with one new death, its first since August 26.

The county has now reported a total of 402 coronavirus cases and 12 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.

According to the data from the Georgia Geospatial Information Office, adults ages 25 to 34 account for 76 (about 19%) of Stewart County’s cases. Adults ages 35-44 account for 93 (about 23%) of the county’s cases. Male residents account for 283 (70%) of the county’s cases. Black residents account for 125 (31%) of Stewart’s cases, while the race of about 230 (about 57%) cases is unknown.

Muscogee County case breakdown

Muscogee County reported 25 new cases and two deaths Thursday, according to DPH. A total of 5,678 coronavirus cases and 154 deaths in Columbus have been confirmed since the start of the pandemic.

On Thursday, 118 new viral tests were reported, and Muscogee County’s test positivity rate for the past two weeks is 7.2%. Since the start of the pandemic, 11.1% of Muscogee County’s tests have been positive.

According to the data from the Georgia Geospatial Information Office, adults ages 25 to 34 account for 1,182 (about 21%) of Columbus’ cases. That is the largest portion. Female residents account for 3,210 (57%) of the county’s cases. Black residents account for 2,388 (42%) of Columbus’ cases, while the race of about 1,685 (about 30%) cases is unknown.

People ages 65-74 account for the largest portion of COVID-19 deaths in Muscogee County — 47 deaths (30%). Female residents account for the largest portion of deaths with 81 (53%) overall. Black residents account for 80 (52%) of the county’s coronavirus deaths.

Chattahoochee County case breakdown

Cases in Chattahoochee County continue to rise. Chattahoochee County reported 54 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday, according to DPH. No new deaths were reported Wednesday.

The New York Times reports Chattahoochee County has the second-highest number of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people over the past seven days in the United States, as of Wednesday evening. This is a move down on the list of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people, which Chattahoochee topped for several days this week.

Over the past week, Chattahoochee County has reported 184 cases, at a rate of 1,687 cases per 100,000 people. It ranks the highest among Georgia counties for the most COVID-19 cases per capita since the start of the pandemic — 11,880.17 per 100,000 people.

Of Chattahoochee County’s 1,515 total cases, 1,174 (77%) are people between the ages of 15 and 24. More than 94% of those infected are men, according to data from the Georgia Geospatial Information Office, which uses data provided by the Georgia Department of Public Health, breaks down the county’s cases and deaths by age, sex, race and ethnicity.

Residents and soldiers in training who test positive for the coronavirus are counted among Chattahoochee County’s totals, officials at Martin Army Community Hospital and the Georgia Department of Public Health have previously said.

But recruits and others who arrive at Benning aren’t included in Chattahoochee County’s overall population estimates, Martin Army and state health officials said. That has the effect of raising the county’s case rate.

Georgia update

In its latest report, the White House coronavirus task force reported Georgia had 132 coronavirus cases per 100,000 people during the week Aug. 31- Sept. 6. That was a decrease from the week before, and the twelfth-highest rate in the country.

Muscogee and the Columbus metro area remained in the yellow zone, according to the report.

“Georgia is making progress and, to sustain the gains, should continue the strong mitigation efforts statewide and strengthen mitigation efforts in university towns to decrease the spread from universities to the local community,” the report reads. “Consider a further reduction in hours and occupancy limits in bars and restaurants in university counties and anywhere university and college students gather if cases begin to rise.”

A full copy of the White House report, published by the Center for Public Integrity, a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit newsroom, can be found here.

Cases: 289,123 (+1,930 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: 6,204 (+76 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 286,202 total antibody tests and 2,542,594 total viral tests (+14,815 viral tests in 24 hours). These totals don’t account for tests that are not reported through the state’s electronic lab reporting system.

Cumulative COVID hospitalizations: 26,062 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.