GA Health Officials Report Small Increases In Cases, Deaths

GEORGIA — The Georgia Department of Public Health reported 32,623 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus, or COVID-19, as of Sunday morning, an increase of 91 positive cases from Saturday. The number of deaths related to COVID-19 increased by four Sunday over the previous day's count, according to the health department.

Seven new coronavirus-related hospitalizations were reported statewide on Sunday, lifting the total number of hospitalizations in Georgia since the crisis began to 5,594.

On Sunday, Fulton County reported 3,387 positive cases of the coronavirus and 144 deaths. DeKalb County reported 2,489 positive cases and 69 deaths, followed by 2,404 positive cases and 87 deaths in Gwinnett County, 2,129 positive cases and 117 deaths in Cobb County, 2,003 positive cases and 28 deaths in Hall County, and 1,587 positive cases and 126 deaths in Dougherty County, according to the state health department.

Get the latest updates on the new coronavirus in Georgia as they happen. Sign up for free news alerts and a newsletter in your Patch town.

On Saturday, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced that Georgia has its lowest number of patients hospitalized with the coronavirus since the state's hospitals began reporting data on April 8. He said there were 1,203 positive patients in hospitals. Additionally, Saturday marked the lowest number of ventilators in use — 897 of the 1,945 available ventilators.

Counties in the Atlanta area, including Fulton, Cobb, Gwinnett, DeKalb and Clayton, have some of the highest confirmed cases. But counties in southwest Georgia have the highest number of cases relative to their populations, according to the state health department. Randolph, Terrell and Early counties each have well over 2,000 confirmed cases per 100,000 residents.

Randolph County is reporting 2,487 positive cases per 100,000 residents. Twenty-one deaths in Randolph County have been attributed to COVID-19. Terrell County is reporting 2,338 cases per 100,000 residents and 21 deaths. Early County is reporting 2,227 cases per 100,000 residents and 26 deaths.

Kemp's statewide shelter-in-place order expired at midnight on April 30. However, his order for the elderly and medically vulnerable residents remains in effect until June 12.

Kemp said Saturday that the state is also making progress in its testing capabilities due to its partnerships with Augusta University through the AU Health ExpressCare app. He said the state has doubled its daily testing capacity. As of Sunday morning, the state health department reported 243,547 tests had been conducted in the state.

RELATED:

• GA Governor Says Coronavirus Hospitalizations At All-Time Low
• Kemp Warns Of Potential For Another GA Coronavirus Outbreak
• GA Coronavirus: 28K Cases On Weekend After Shelter-In-Place Ends