Georgia Coronavirus: Cases Jump From 7,300 To 12,400 In Week

GEORGIA — The Georgia Department of Public Health reported 12,452 cases of the new coronavirus, which causes COVID-19 illness, at noon on Sunday, April 12. Cases increased from 7,314 confirmed cases, or 41 percent, since noon on Monday, April 6. In the same timeframe, deaths increased from 229 to 433 and hospitalizations rose from 1,332 to 2,505.

The state reported 293 new cases, less than the number of new cases reported by noon on previous days. Saturday's increase in cases was 676, Friday's increase topped 900, Thursday's increase was 1,410 and Wednesday's was 338.

Among the positive cases is a worker at the Georgia Governor's Mansion in the Buckhead area. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp's office said the governor and his family did not have contact with the individual. A statement to Patch from the governor's office indicated anyone directly exposed to the worker has been tested and is self-quarantining.

Since Saturday, five additional deaths were reported, bringing the total to 433. The number of deaths represents 3.48 percent of cases. On Tuesday, April 7, Georgia saw its largest jump in deaths with an increase of 100.

Of the state's total cases, 2,505 individuals are hospitalized, up from 2,479 hospitalizations Saturday. Hospitalizations represent approximately 20 percent of cases.

So far, commercial labs have tested 50,933 people in Georgia, which includes 11,811 who tested positive for COVID-19. Georgia Public Health Laboratory has tested 3,520, including 641 individuals who tested positive.

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While President Donald Trump, U.S. surgeon general and other national leaders are discussing the higher number of coronavirus cases among African-Americans and other people of color, Georgia is not reporting racial data for all confirmed cases. Of the state's positive cases, 7,052 do not report race and ethnicity.

As of Sunday, Fulton County still has the most cases of any Georgia county with 1,467 cases, followed by Dougherty County with 1,154 cases, DeKalb County with 869, Cobb County with 714 and Gwinnett County with 690. Clayton County reported 362 cases, Hall County reported 279 cases, Henry County reported 260, Lee County reported 239, Sumter County reported 227, Bartow County reported 212 and Carroll reported 204.

Dougherty County has the highest death toll with 72 deaths, followed by Fulton with 50 deaths, Cobb with 32, Gwinnett with 19, Lee and Bartow with 15 each, DeKalb with 14, Mitchell with 13, Clarke and Clayton with 11 each and Terrell with 10.

Ahead of Easter Sunday and in the midst of Passover, Kemp asked Georgia residents to worship through virtual means.

"No matter your faith, please worship online or participate in remote services," said Kemp in a video message. "Take this time to be with your family but avoid large gatherings and continue to follow strict social distancing guidelines."

Georgia is under a shelter-in-place order, extended through the end of April. Under the order, everyone except essential workers must remain home, except for essential tasks such as obtaining food, seeking medical care, or exercising outdoors while staying six feet from others. Anyone who violates the shelter-in-place order can be charged with a misdemeanor. The governor's executive order that extended the shelter-in-place order also suspended short-term vacation rentals.

SEE ALSO:

• GA Governor's Mansion Worker Tests Positive For Coronavirus
• Kemp Urges GA To Worship At Home As Coronavirus Cases Increase
• Gov. Kemp Extends Georgia's Shelter In Place: Coronavirus