916 Deaths, Over 700 New Coronavirus Cases, List Of GA Test Sites

ATLANTA, GA — As national health experts and politicians watch Georgia slowly reopen businesses, the number of deaths in the past 24 hours declined, while the number of confirmed cases continued to climb.

As of 6 p.m. Sunday, the growing toll of the coronavirus outbreak in Georgia included 12 more deaths in the past day, the Georgia Department of Public Health released in its daily report. The updated numbers reflect an increase of 86 cases from noon on Saturday, bringing the total to 23,481 coronavirus cases statewide, and a total of 916 deaths in the past 24 hours.

Twelve deaths statewide were noted in Saturday's report, along with a total of 22,695 coronavirus cases statewide.

Of the latest total, 4,377 patients — or about 18.6 percent — have been hospitalized. The total number of deaths from coronavirus recorded is about 4 percent of the total number of cases reported.

State health officials continue to open up coronavirus testing sites; there are no 48 active testing sites across the state. Visits to these sites are by referral or appointment only. Health experts have said that as more tests are done, the case numbers will rise, and officials should watch the numbers of hospitalizations and patients in ICU beds to gauge how prevalent the virus is in any state or region. See the list at the bottom of this story.

"Most businesses remained open with restrictions to ensure community health and well-being," Gov. Brian Kemp said Thursday. "We were successful in our efforts to protect Georgians and our state's healthcare infrastructure. Now, with favorable data and approval from state health officials, we are taking another measured step forward by opening shuttered businesses for limited operations. I know these hardworking Georgians will prioritize the safety of their employees and customers."

Businesses such as hair salons, gyms and bowling alleys were allowed to reopen on Friday if they followed safeguards to prevent the spread of the disease. Kemp said that restaurants can follow on Monday by offering dine-in service again with social distancing measures.

For the latest updates on the new coronavirus outbreak in Georgia, sign up for free news alerts and a newsletter in your Patch town.

Most of the top 10 counties with the highest number of coronavirus cases and deaths are in the metro Atlanta area, with Fulton County still first for cases with 2,542 and 92 deaths. Dougherty County, though, which has the third highest number of cases at 1,469 has the highest death count at 108.

Other counties in the top five are DeKalb at second, with 1,798 cases and 36 deaths; Gwinnett at fourth, with 1,495 cases and 46 deaths; and Cobb at fifth with 1,411 cases and 75 deaths.

Fitness centers, barbers, hair salons, tattoo shops and bowling alleys are among the businesses allowed to resume operation on Friday. To reopen the services must continue social distancing and medical screenings. The list and explanation are here.

On Monday, movie theaters may open their doors and Georgia restaurants are allowed to resume in-house dining. Guidelines were released for restaurants, including no buffets, servers are required to wear face masks and limited capacity inside buildings.

Business owners who took a Patch survey are divided on whether services can safely be offered and if the state is easing restrictions too soon.

John Capone, owner of Bradley's Bar & Grill and Dogwood Catering in Marietta, said he never agreed with the business shutdowns in Georgia, and will reopen as soon as he is permitted to.

"We have everything we need, including standard COVID-19 things such as masks and gloves on staff, lots of Clorox wipes for customers, lots of wiping of door knobs, chairs, etc.," Capone told Patch. "We removed 75 percent of bar stools and chairs. We will still encourage curbside and delivery."

Other business owners aren't as optimistic, though.

Dave Smith, owner of Blue Frog Imports in Woodstock, said he is worried the soft reopening will cause Georgia to have a second lockdown. There are strict restrictions businesses have been given in order to reopen, and Smith is worried those rules won't be enforced.

"I think it is one of the most ridiculous decisions a governor can make while in office," Smith said. "There are very few ways to contain the virus. Business owners that return to work will have to be stringent on following all safety rules. You can't tell me that Kemp has a task force to ensure that every business is going to follow these guidelines. The virus wins if we don't isolate with so many cases growing daily. Who will decide if and when customers visiting these businesses are infecting other people unnecessarily? I don't feel it is possible to be safe enough to go back to work now. I'm hoping people will come to their senses and not venture out."

Related: GA Reopening Friday Divides Business Owners: Coronavirus

For the latest updates on the new coronavirus outbreak in Georgia, sign up for free news alerts and a newsletter in your Patch town.

Most of the top 10 counties with the highest number of coronavirus cases and deaths are in the metro Atlanta area, with Fulton County still first for cases with 2,509. Dougherty County, though, which has the third highest number of cases at 1,467 has the highest death count at 108.
Other counties in the top five are DeKalb at second, with 1,734 cases and 36 deaths; Gwinnett at fourth, with 1,421 cases and 46 deaths; and Cobb at fifth with 1,377 cases and 73 deaths. Rounding out the top 10 are Hall, Clayton, Henry, Cherokee and Sumter counties.

President Donald Trump is watching Georgia after saying last week that Kemp knows what he's doing, and then criticizing the reopening as too soon at a press briefing.

The president tweeted Friday, "I (or @VP) never gave Governor Brian Kemp an OK on those few businesses outside of the Guidelines. FAKE NEWS! Spas, beauty salons, tattoo parlors, & barber shops should take a little slower path, but I told the Governor to do what is right for the great people of Georgia (& USA)!"

Additional COVID-19 Testing Sites Online in Georgia

The Georgia Department of Public Health has released a list of all active specimen collection sites for COVID-19 testing in Georgia. The list below contains 48 active testing sites across the state.

Visits to these sites are by referral or appointment only, and Georgians should contact their medical provider, local public health officials, or other contacts listed for information.

District 1-1 Northwest Health District (Rome):
West Rome Baptist Church
914 Shorter Ave. NW, Rome, GA 30165
Monday thru Friday 9 AM-5 PM, Saturday 9 AM-1 PM

Clarence Brown Conference Center
5450 GA-20, Cartersville, GA 30121
Monday thru Friday 9 AM-5 PM, Saturday 9 AM-1 PM

National Guard at Walker Co. Health Department
Healthcare Personnel and First Responders Only
Saturday and Sunday, 8:30 AM-12 PM

Greystone Building
120 Greystone Power Blvd., Dallas, GA 30157
Monday thru Friday 9 AM-5 PM, Saturday 9 AM-1 PM

Walker County Civic Center
10052 US-27, Rock Spring, GA 30739
Monday thru Friday 9 AM-5 PM, Saturday 9 AM-1 PM

District 1-2 North Georgia Health District (Dalton):

Cherokee County Health Department
7545 Main St., Woodstock, GA 30188
Monday thru Friday 9 AM-5 PM, Saturday 9 AM-12 PM

Whitfield County Health Department
800 Professional Blvd., Dalton, GA 30720
Monday thru Friday 8:30 AM-3 PM, Saturday 9 AM-12 PM

ECT Pavilion
297 Legend Rd., Ellijay, GA 30540
Monday thru Friday 9 AM-12 PM

To receive a test at one of these facilities, please contact your medical provider or local public health officials for a referral:
District 1-1 Northwest Health District (Rome): (706) 802-5329, (706) 802-5885, (706) 802-5886, (706) 802-5888
District 1-2 North Georgia Health District (Dalton): 1 (888) 881-1474

District 2 North Health District (Gainesville):

Allen Creek Soccer Complex
2500 Allen Creek Rd, Gainesville, GA 30507
Monday thru Friday 8:30 AM-5 PM, 9 AM-12 PM

To receive a test at this facility, please contact the North Health District (Gainesville) office at (770) 535-5743, one of the local health departments, or your medical provider for a referral.

District 3-1 Cobb & Douglas Health District:

Jim Miller Park
2245 Callaway Rd., Marietta, GA 30008
Monday thru Friday 8:30 AM-5 PM, Saturday 9 AM-12 PM

Hunter Memorial Park
8830 Gurly Rd., Douglasville, GA, 30134
Monday thru Friday 8:30 AM-5 PM, Saturday 9 AM-12 PM

District 3-2 Fulton County Health District:
Aviation Cultural Center
3900 Aviation Circle NW, Atlanta, GA 30336
Monday thru Friday 8:30 AM-5 PM, Saturday 9 AM-12 PM

District 3-3 Clayton County Health District:
Childrens at Mount Zion
2201 Mt Zion Pkwy., Morrow, GA 30260
Monday thru Friday 8:30 AM-5 PM

District 3-4 East Metro Health District (Lawrenceville):
District 3-4 Public Health
2570 Riverside Pkwy., Lawrenceville, GA 30046
Monday thru Friday 9 AM-5 PM, Saturday 9 AM-12 PM

Cousins Middle School
8187 Carlton Trl. NW, Covington, GA 30014
Monday 9 AM-5 PM

District 3-5 Dekalb Health District:

Sugar Creek Golf Course
2706 Bouldercrest Rd. SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
Monday thru Friday 8:30 AM-5 PM, Saturday 9 AM-12 PM

Kingswood Church
4896 N Peachtree Rd., Dunwoody, GA 30338
Monday thru Friday 8:30 AM-5 PM, Saturday 9 AM-12 PM

To receive a test at one of these facilities, please contact your medical provider or local public health officials for a referral:

• District 3-1 Cobb & Douglas Health District: (770) 514-2300
• District 3-2 Fulton County Health District: (404) 613-8150
• District 3-3 Clayton County Health District: (678) 479-2223
• District 3-4 East Metro Health District (Lawrenceville): (770) 513-5631
• District 3-5 Dekalb Health District: (404) 294-3700

Testing is also available in this region at the following locations by appointment only through each facility's dedicated COVID-19 website:
CVS Drive-Thru Rapid COVID-19 Testing at Georgia Tech352 Peachtree Place, Atlanta, GA, 30332Monday thru Friday 9 AM-6 PM, Saturday 10 AM-5 PM, Sunday 10 AM-4 PM
For more information and to register for a test, visit www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/covid-19-testing.
Walgreens Drive-Thru Rapid COVID-19 Testing Site (Alpharetta)11855 Jones Bridge Rd., Alpharetta, GA 30005
Open Every Day 9 AM-5 PM
For more information and to register for a test, visit Walgreens.com/coronavirus.District 4 LaGrange Health District:Coweta County Fair Grounds

275 Pine Rd., Newnan, GA 30263
Monday thru Friday 8:30 AM-5 PM, Saturday 9 AM-12 PM

Heritage Senior Center
1050 Florence McGarity Blvd., McDonough, GA 30252
Monday thru Friday 8:30 AM-5 PM, Saturday 9 AM-12 PM

To receive a test at one of these facilities, please contact your medical provider or local public health officials for a referral:
District 4 LaGrange Health District: 1 (800) 847-4262

District 5-1 South Central Health District (Dublin):

Dublin-Laurens County Recreation Facility
660 Firetower Rd., Dublin, GA 31021
Monday thru Friday 8:30 AM-5 PM, Saturday 9 AM-2 PM

First Baptist Church
151 South 1st Ave., McRae, GA 31055
Monday thru Friday 8:30 AM-5 PM, Saturday 9 AM-12 PM

District 5-2 North Central Health District (Macon):

Houston County Health Department
98 Cohen Walker Dr., Warner Robins, GA 31088
Monday thru Friday 8:30 AM-5 PM, Saturday 9 AM-12 PM

Washington County Health Department
201 Morningside Dr., Sandersville, GA 31082
Monday thru Friday 8:30 AM-5 PM, Saturday 9 AM-12 PM

Jones County Health Department
114 Forest St., Gray, GA 31032
Monday thru Friday 8:30 AM-5 PM, Saturday 9 AM-12 PM

Jasper County Health Department
825 Eatonton St., Monticello, GA 31064
Monday thru Friday 8:30 AM-5 PM, Saturday 9 AM-12 PM

Macon-Bibb County Health Department
171 Emery Highway, Macon, GA 31217
Monday thru Friday 8:30 AM-5 PM, Saturday 9 AM-12 PM

To receive a test at one of these facilities, please contact your medical provider or local public health officials for a referral:

• District 5-1 South Central Health District (Dublin): (478) 275-6570
• District 5-2 North Central Health District (Macon): 1 (844) 987-0099

District 6 East Central Health District (Augusta):

Columbia County Exhibition Center
212 Partnership Dr., Grovetown, GA 30813
Monday thru Friday 10 AM-3 PM

Burke County Middle School
356 Southside Dr., Waynesboro, GA 30830
Monday thru Friday 8:30 AM-5 PM, Saturday 9 AM-12 PM

Thompson-McDuffie County Recreation
180 Sweetwater Park Dr. SE, Thomson, GA 30824
Monday thru Friday 8:30 AM-5 PM, Saturday 9 AM-12 PM

To receive a test at one of these facilities, please contact your medical provider or local public health officials for a referral:

District 6 East Central Health District (Augusta) : (706) 721-5800 (ask for testing)

Testing is also available in this region at the following Augusta University Health System-run sites:
Christenberry Fieldhouse
3109 Wrightsboro Rd., Augusta, GA 30909
Open every day 10 AM-12 PM

Patriots Park
5445 Columbia Rd., Grovetown, GA 30813
Monday thru Friday 3:30 PM-4:30 PM

Appointments for these sites can be made through the AU Health ExpressCare app, or by calling (706) 721-1852.

District 7 West Central Health District (Columbus):
Columbus Health Department
2100 Comer Ave., Columbus, GA 31902
Monday thru Friday 8:30 AM-5 PM, Saturday 9 AM-12 PM

To receive a test at this facility, please contact your medical provider or local public health officials for a referral:
District 7 West Central Health District (Columbus): (706) 321-6300

District 8-1 South Health District (Valdosta):

Lowndes County Civic Center
2108 E Hill Ave., Valdosta, GA 31601
Monday thru Friday 8:30 AM-5 PM, Saturday 9 AM-12 PM

Southern Regional Technical College, Tifton Campus
52 Tech Dr., Tifton, GA 31794
Monday thru Friday 8:30 AM-5 PM, Saturday 9 AM-12 PM

Turner County Health Department
745 Hudson Ave. Ashburn, GA 31714
Monday thru Friday 8:30 AM-5 PM, Saturday 9 AM-12 PM

Cook County Health Department
204 North Parrish Ave., Adel, GA 31620
Monday thru Friday 8:30 AM-5 PM, Saturday 9 AM-12 PM

District 8-2 Southwest Health District (Albany):

Dougherty County Health Department
1710 S Slappley Blvd., Albany, GA 31701
Monday thru Friday 8:30 AM-5 PM, Saturday 9 AM-12 PM

Thomas County Health Department
484 Smith Ave., Thomasville, GA
Monday thru Friday 8:30AM-5 PM, Saturday 9 AM-12 PM

Camilla First Baptist Church
27 E. Broad St., Camilla, GA 31730
Monday thru Friday 8:30 AM-5 PM, Saturday 9 AM-12 PM

To receive a test at one of these facilities, please contact your medical provider or local public health officials for a referral:

District 8-1 South Health District (Valdosta):
Call Center: 1 (844) 955-1499
Ben Hill County: (229) 426-5288
Berrien County: (229) 686-5411
Brooks County: (229) 263-7585
Cook County: (229) 896-3030
Echols County: (229) 559-5103
Irwin County: (229) 238-9540
Lanier County: (229) 482-3294
Lowndes County: (229) 333-5257
Tift County: (229) 386-8373
Turner County: (229) 238-9595
District 8-2 Southwest Health District (Albany): (229) 352-6567

District 9-1 Coastal Health District (Savannah):

Glynn County Health Department
2747 4th St., Brunswick, GA 31520
Monday thru Friday 8:30 AM-5 PM, Saturday 9 AM-12 PM

Jennifer Ross Soccer Complex
7221 Sallie Mood Dr., Savannah, GA 31406
Monday thru Friday 8:30 AM-5 PM. Saturday 9 AM-12 PM

District 9-2 Southeast Health District (Waycross):

Coffee Regional Medical Center
1101 Ocilla Rd., Douglas, GA 31533
Monday thru Friday 8:30 AM-5 PM, Saturday 9 AM-12 PM

Kiwanis Fair Grounds
16942 GA-67, Statesboro, GA 30458
Monday thru Friday 8:30 AM-5 PM, Saturday 9 AM-12 PM

To receive a test at one of these facilities, please contact your medical provider or local public health officials for a referral:
District 9-1 Coastal Health District (Savannah): (912) 230-9744
District 9-2 Southeast Health District (Waycross): 1 (855) 473-4374

District 10 Northeast Health District (Athens):

Athens-Clarke County Health Department
165 Paradise Blvd., Athens, GA 30607
Monday thru Friday 8 AM-5 PM, Saturday 9 AM-12 PM

Mobile SPOC (Greene)
1180 C Weldon Smith Dr., Greensboro, GA 30642
Tuesday and Thursday 8:30 AM-5 PM

Mobile SPOC (Barrow)
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 8:30 AM-5 PM, Saturday 9 AM-12 PM
For more information, contact the Northeast Health District office at (706) 340-0996.

To receive a test at one of these facilities, please contact your medical provider or local public health officials for a referral:

District 10 Northeast Health District (Athens): (706) 340-0996

Related:

• Trump Backtracks, Says Too Soon For GA Coronavirus Reopening
• Details Of Georgia's Controversial Reopening: Coronavirus