CDC now recommends most Georgians wear masks indoors as COVID transmission rises
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends Georgians wear masks for public indoor settings as new COVID-19 cases rise throughout the state.
There are three COVID community levels: low, medium and high. At a high level, indoor masking is advised along with additional precautions for those who may be at a higher risk of severe illness. The CDC has categorized most counties in Georgia as having “high COVID community levels.
The CDC looks at three metrics for determining the various levels:
New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 people in the past 7 days
The percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID patients
Total new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people in the past 7 days
If an area has 200 or more new COVID cases per 100,000 people in a week, the level is considered high if there are more than 10 admissions per 100,000 during that week and more than 10% of inpatient beds are occupied by COVID patients.
The state reported 42,026 new cases of COVID in the last two weeks at a case rate of 388 cases per 100,000 people, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health.
The data trajectory
The “seven-day moving average” is found by (1) taking the number of cases reported in the last seven days, (2) adding them up and then (3) dividing by seven. The moving average has been trending upwards since mid-April.
The seven-day moving average for the state on July 27 was 3,171 cases.
Although the CDC is reporting high transmission, the number of cases being reported remain much lower than in previous surges, such as the omicron surge at the start of the year.
In Muscogee County, the West Central Health District has seen an increase of people getting tested for COVID-19, said spokesperson Pamela Kirkland, with 192 tests performed in the week ending on July 9, to 236 performed in the week ending on July 23.
Not all COVID cases are reported to the health department because people who test at home are not required to report their results, she said. Testing done by the health department or a physician is reported as part of the county’s totals.
St. Francis-Emory Healthcare saw an increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations in July, spokesperson Grant Farrimond told the Ledger-Enquirer. The hospital was caring for 21 COVID positive patients as of July 26, he said, and averaged about 15 COVID positive patients per day in July.
“We have continued to see a trend of both shorter and less-emergent hospitalizations,” Farrimond said. “The severity of illness has been less, resulting in patients not requiring higher levels of care when and if they become hospitalized.”
Piedmont Columbus Regional has also seen an increase in cases, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Chris Edwards told the Ledger-Enquirer.
“But the numbers are still nowhere near previous peaks,” he said. “And numbers seem to be declining again.
Many of the COVID positive patients in Piedmont have not required supplemental oxygen, he said reiterating that the severity of the illness is less.
“Even though disease severity is low, when the transmission rate is high, staff become positive and have to stay out of work for a period of time,” Edwards said. “Thus staffing levels can be a concern.”
There have been 318 COVID deaths in the state since July 1, and 32,396 deaths since the pandemic began. As of June 27, there are 1,017 people in the state hospitalized.
About 65% of Georgians have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 57% are fully vaccinated according to DPH. Around 25% have received an additional dose of the vaccine.
Here are the latest COVID trends in Muscogee County, according to DPH data.
Muscogee County
Muscogee County reported 651 new COVID cases in a two-week period at a case rate of 340 cases per 100,000 people as of July 27. The number of cases have been steadily increasing over the summer from 228 new cases in a two-week period on June 1 at a case rate of 119 cases per 100,000.
The seven-day moving average on July 27 was 48.6 cases.
There have been 6 deaths from COVID in the county so far this month. Since the start of the pandemic, Muscogee County has reported 736 deaths from COVID. In the last two weeks, 29.1% of COVID tests in the county were positive.
As of July 27, 53% of Muscogee County residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine, while 46% are fully vaccinated. Additionally, 19% of residents have received an additional dose of the vaccine.
Bibb County
Bibb County reported a two-week case rate of 404 cases per 100,000 people as of July 27. This increased from a rate of 262 cases per 100,000 on July 1.
There were 615 new cases reported in Bibb County within the last two weeks.
The seven-day moving average on July 27 was 46.1 cases.
There have been 5 deaths from COVID in the county this month. Since the start of the pandemic, Bibb County has reported 709 COVID deaths.
In the last two weeks, 30.2% of COVID tests in the county were positive.
As of July 27, 55% of Bibb County residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 50% are fully vaccinated. Additionally, 21% of residents have received an additional dose of the vaccine.
More information about COVID-19 data in Georgia can be found on DPH’s COVID-19 status website.
This story was originally published July 28, 2022 at 5:32 PM with the headline "CDC now recommends most Georgians wear masks indoors as COVID transmission rises."
