County near Columbus lands on ‘hotspot’ list for new COVID-19 cases. Here’s latest data
Muscogee and Stewart counties reported the highest number of new COVID-19 cases in the region Friday. Single-day increases remain below the records seen during the state’s summer surge.
However, Stewart reported nearly 60 new cases over the past three days, and the recent increases put the small southern county near the top of the nation for recent COVID-19 cases per resident.
Few of Georgia’s newly reported deaths occurred in the Columbus area.
Here’s the breakdown of state and local data:
Stewart County’s recent increases
Over the past three days, Stewart County has reported 58 new COVID-19 cases. The county, home to roughly 6,600 people according to U.S. Census estimates, reported a total of 68 new cases over the last seven days.
Over that period, Stewart’s case rate is 1,027 per 100,000 people. That is the 22nd-highest in the nation, resulting in the New York Times putting Stewart County on its COVID-19 “hotspot” list. It’s the only Georgia county currently on the list.
Stewart Detention Center, one of the nation’s largest facilities for housing federal immigration detainees, accounts for a majority of the county’s cases. State health officials previously told the Ledger-Enquirer that confirmed infections at the center are included in the county’s case totals.
As of Sept. 23, ICE reports 341 detainees at Stewart have tested positive for the virus since the start of the pandemic, accounting for at least 66% of the county’s cases. Three detainees have died of coronavirus complications.
Male residents account for 77% of Stewart County’s cases, and residents with Hispanic/Latino ethnicity account for 57% of those infected, according to the Georgia Geospatial Information Office, which uses data provided by the Georgia Department of Public Health.
Muscogee County case breakdown
Muscogee County is approaching 6,000 total COVID-19 cases. Since the start of the pandemic, Muscogee County has reported 5,973 coronavirus cases and 168 deaths. One new death was reported Friday.
On Friday, 292 new viral tests were reported. Muscogee County’s test positivity rate for the past two weeks is 5.7%. 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, 10.7% of Muscogee County’s tests have been positive.
According to data from the Georgia Geospatial Information Office, adults ages 25 to 34 account for 1,231 (about 21%) of Columbus’ cases. That is the largest portion. Female residents account for 3,376 (57%) of the county’s cases. Black residents account for 2,529 (42%) of Columbus’ cases, while the race of about 1,664 (28%) cases is unknown.
People ages 65-74 account for the largest portion of COVID-19 deaths in Muscogee County — 50 deaths (30%). Female residents account for the largest portion of deaths with 89 (53%) overall. Black residents account for 86 (51%) of the county’s coronavirus deaths.
Georgia update
Cases: 312,514 (+1,547 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: 6,874 (+53 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 298,482 total antibody tests and 2,847,494 total viral tests (+22,678 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 190 daily coronavirus tests per 100,000 residents. That’s 44% of the state’s testing target, according to reporting by the New York Times and estimates made by the Harvard Global Health Institute.
Current COVID hospitalizations: 1,360
This story was originally published September 25, 2020 at 4:46 PM.