COVID-19 in Middle GA by the numbers: Macon, Warner Robins remain in WH ‘Red Zone’
The Georgia Department of Public Health reported 14,115 cumulative COVID-19 cases in Middle Georgia in its 3 p.m. update Wednesday.
Here are key takeaways:
Cases: 14,115 (+1,767 reported since Wednesday, Aug. 19). Bibb County has recorded the most positive cases with 5,327, although the health department is trying to sort through thousands of cases Navicent Health added to the state’s reporting system. Between Tuesday and Wednesday’s report, 13 cases were removed from Bibb County’s cumulative COVID-19 total.
According to Michael Hokanson of the North Central Health District, which is part of the Georgia Department of Public Health, the spike in cases looks to be “data dump” from Navicent Health that could take the state days or weeks to untangle.
“We have to review the new data to see if they are duplicates, negatives, truly new cases or a mix of everything,” he said. “This is going to take some time since a substantial number of records were dumped.”
Deaths: 380 (+68 reported since Wednesday, Aug. 19). 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.
Cases per person: Bibb County has the most cases per 100,000 with 3,501, although that number will change as DPH confirms or rejects cases from the recent data dump. Wilkinson is next with 3,139 cases per 100,000 people. Crawford has one of the lowest rates in the state, with 1,194 per 100,000.
New cases notes: Baldwin County reported 291 new cases week-over-week, up to 1,510 cases from 1,219 last week.
COVID-19 patients in local hospitals: Coliseum Health System is treating 31 COVID positive patients. Navicent Health is not releasing the number of COVID-19 patients treated at its Medical Center. The health department is not reporting how many Georgians have recovered.
A breakdown of cases and deaths by county
Bibb 5,327 cumulative cases - 110 deaths
Houston 2,567 - 64
Baldwin 1,510 - 48
Laurens 1,253 - 40
Washington 594 - 3
Monroe 581 - 36
Peach 553 - 16
Jones 433 - 5
Bleckley 330 - 15
Dodge 299 - 5
Wilkinson 280 - 14
Macon 201 - 10
Pulaski 169 - 6
Twiggs 169 - 6
Crawford 146 - 1
The state reported 2,322 new cases across the state and 50 new deaths.
Federal and county data
White House coronavirus task force report: According to a weekly White House report, Georgia continues to be a COVID-19 red zone, which means the state is reporting more than 100 new cases per 100,000 people.
There is some good news, according to the report: Georgia has improved in the number of tests performed and test positivity rate and has experienced a decline in new cases. Georgia’s new cases per 100,000 residents declined 22.5% last week. These gains, however, the report says need to “accelerate.” Georgia had 167 new cases per 100,000 people last week, compared to a national average of 93 per 100,000.
According to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, a high positivity rate may indicate Georgia “is only testing the sickest patients who seek medical attention, and is not casting a wide enough net to know how much of the virus is spreading within its communities.”
At the county level, Bibb County has reported one of the highest rates of new cases over the past three weeks. Both Macon and Warner Robins are a red zone, according to the report. The task for recommends that residents in a red zone implement the following measures:
- Wear a mask at all times outside the home and maintain physical distance
- Limit social gatherings to 10 people or fewer
- Do not go to bars, nightclubs, or gyms
- Use take out or eat outdoors socially distanced
- Protect anyone with serious medical conditions at home by social distancing at home and using high levels of personal hygiene, including handwashing and cleaning surfaces
- Reduce your public interactions and activities to 25% of your normal activity
North Central Health District weekly summary: According to the NCHD’s weekly report, the COVID-19 incidence rate for Bibb County residents over the most recent reporting period (Aug. 3-16) was 514 cases per 100,000 residents. The previous two-week incidence rate was 470 per 100,000. From Aug. 3-16, 91% of cases were linked to community spread, and not a specific outbreak. The vast majority of cases linked to outbreaks, 96%, were associated with congregate care settings, such as nursing homes.
Houston County experienced a slight increase in new COVID-19 cases per 100,00 from 258 to 262. Peach County’s rate dropped 21%, while Wilkinson’s rose 30%, from 409 to 531 cases per 100,000.
The North Central Health District covers 13 counties, including Macon-Bibb, Houston and Peach.
