Columbus’ seven-day average for new COVID-19 cases now at lowest rate since early June
Muscogee County’s seven-day average for newly-reported COVID-19 cases is the lowest it’s been since early June, according to a Ledger-Enquirer analysis.
The seven-day average for newly-reported COVID-19 cases is 18.86 cases per day. The number is the average of the current day and six previous days of data. The average helps track changes over time, as opposed to increases or decreases seen in the course of 24 hours.
In Muscogee, the average has been below 20 cases per day since Sept. 9. The seven-day average was 15 cases on June 3. The average reached its highest point in mid-July at around 100 cases.
Despite continued declines statewide, Georgia is testing too few people, and the state’s test positivity rate remains too high, according to benchmarks set by public health experts.
Muscogee County case breakdown
On Tuesday, 22 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday were reported as state health officials confirmed nearly 1,600 new infections statewide.
Since the start of the pandemic, Muscogee County has reported 5,769 coronavirus cases and 159 deaths. No new deaths were reported Tuesday.
On Tuesday, 210 new viral tests were reported, and Muscogee County’s test positivity rate for the past two weeks is 6.8%. The World Health Organization’s recommended test positivity percentage is 5% or less for at least 14 days. A rate below 5% could mean a state is properly tracking outbreaks and locating milder cases of the disease.
Since the start of the pandemic, 11% of Muscogee County’s tests have been positive.
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 1,198 (about 21%) of Columbus’ cases. That is the largest portion. Female residents account for 3,263 (57%) of the county’s cases. Black residents account for 2,426 (42%) of Columbus’ cases, while the race of about 1,692 (29%) cases is unknown.
People ages 65-74 account for the largest portion of COVID-19 deaths in Muscogee County — 49 deaths (31%). Female residents account for the largest portion of deaths with 84 (53%) overall. Black residents account for 82 (52%) of the county’s coronavirus deaths.
Regional update
Few newly confirmed cases in the counties surrounding Columbus were reported Tuesday. A case was removed from Chattahoochee County, bringing its total case count to 1,583. A death was also removed from the county’s totals, bringing Chattahoochee’s total death tally to one. Chattahoochee County reported its second death on Aug. 9.
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 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.
Crisp County, about two hours southeast of Columbus and within the same public health district, reported 7 new cases. Troup County reported 10 new cases.
Georgia update
Cases: 296,833 (+1,571 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: 6,398 (+48 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 290,791 total antibody tests and 2,629,090 total viral tests (+13,843 viral tests in 24 hours). These totals don’t account for tests that are not reported through the state’s electronic lab reporting system.
Over the last two weeks, Georgia reported 202 daily coronavirus tests per 100,000 residents. That’s 30% of the state’s testing target, according to reporting by the New York Times and estimates made by the Harvard Global Health Institute.
Positivity rate for Georgia today: 7.6%. Georgia’s overall positivity: 10.3%. This rate is for tests reported through the state’s electronic lab reporting system only.
Current COVID hospitalizations: 1,507, a decrease of 29 in 24 hours.
This story was originally published September 15, 2020 at 4:40 PM.