Coronavirus live updates: Number of possible cases in Georgia rises to 17
We’re keeping up with coronavirus news in Georgia. Continue to check back regularly for updates.
Cases confirmed by the CDC
The governor’s office announced the first two confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Georgia on March 3. The patients live together in Fulton County, and one recently visited Italy, according to the news release.
Both are in isolation with “mild symptoms,” the release states.
By March 7, the Georgia Department of Public Health in Atlanta announced three additional confirmed cases — one each in Fulton, Polk and Cobb counties.
The Cobb County resident also had recently returned from Italy and was being kept in isolation at home, health officials said. It’s unclear how the patient in Fulton County was exposed to the virus but they have been hospitalized.
According to DPH, the number of confirmed cases has since ballooned to six.
“The overall risk of COVID-19 to the general public remains low, although elderly people and individuals with chronic medical conditions may have increased risk for COVID-19,” health officials said.
Here’s a breakdown of confirmed cases in each county as of Monday, per DHS:
Fulton County — 3
Floyd County — 1
Polk County — 1
Cobb County — 1
Presumptive positive cases reported
DPH announced five new possible cases of COVID-19 on Monday in Cobb, Fayette, Gwinnett and DeKalb counties.
“The individuals are hospitalized, and the sources of their infections are unknown,” officials said in a news release.
They joined six existing “presumptive positive” cases that tested positive by DPH but await confirmation from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
Flawed tests that were sent to state labs early on necessitates sending all presumptive positive test results for COVID-19 to the CDC for verification, the governor’s office said in a news release.
Here’s a breakdown of the possible cases in each county as of Monday, per DPH:
Fulton County — 2
Cobb County — 3
Fayette County — 1
DeKalb County — 2
Gwinnett County— 2
Cherokee County — 1
