Georgia reports 3,400 new COVID cases amid record number of hospitalizations
The Georgia Department of Public Health reported more than 3,400 new COVID-19 cases after Gov. Brian Kemp extended coronavirus restrictions but banned local governments from implementing mask ordinances.
Here are some key takeaways from the latest data:
- Cases: 131,275 (+3,441 in 24 hours). This is the fourth straight day Georgia reported more than 3,300 new coronavirus cases. Health officials reported 3,871 cases on Wednesday, 3,394 cases on Tuesday and 3,643 on Monday. McClatchy measures new cases by subtracting the total number of infections reported at 3 p.m. from the total number of infections reported the previous day at 3 p.m. This reflects when confirmed cases are reported to the state.
- People ages 18-29 account for 31,781 (or about 24%) of Georgia’s total coronavirus cases.
- The seven-day average for newly reported cases is 3,507, a new record.
- Deaths: 3,104 (+13 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 191,262 total antibody tests and 1,178,222 total viral tests (+23,239 new 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 Hospitalizations: 2,841, a new record. That’s an increase of 55 patients in 24 hours. Current hospitalization numbers are reported by Georgia hospitals to the Department of Public Health. 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.
- As of Wednesday, 84% of the state’s critical care beds are in use. Several hospital regions in Georgia have less than 10 critical care beds available, according to the state’s emergency management agency. Region H, which includes some Middle Georgia counties such as Baldwin, Laurens and Twiggs, has three critical care beds left. Not every patient in a critical care bed has COVID-19.
- Total COVID-19 hospitalizations as of July 14: 14,346, an increase of 244 in 24 hours.
- Cases per 100,000: Echols (5,165), Chattahoochee (4,577), Stewart (3,769), Randolph (3,257) and Early (3,213) counties have the highest coronavirus rates per 100,000 people in the state.
The health department is not reporting how many Georgians have recovered.
For a complete county-by-county list, visit the Georgia Department of Public Health’s website.
Regional Update
In Middle Georgia, Bibb County reported 2,015 cases, up 43 cases in 24 hours. As of July 16, 43 coronavirus-related deaths have been confirmed in Bibb. No new deaths were reported.
Houston County reported 1108 cases, up 48 cases in 24 hours. As of July 16, 33 coronavirus-related deaths have been confirmed in Houston, an increase of one in 24 hours.
- Muscogee County reported 3,142 COVID-19 cases, an increase of 81 in 24 hours. The county has reported 80 new cases for three days straight. As of July 16, 64 coronavirus-related deaths have been confirmed. No new deaths were reported.
- Gwinnett County reports the highest number of cases in the state at 12,489.
This story was originally published July 16, 2020 at 4:17 PM with the headline "Georgia reports 3,400 new COVID cases amid record number of hospitalizations."