Georgia COVID-19 Hospitalizations Surge With New Variant: DPH

ATLANTA, GA — New COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are on the rise in Georgia while a new dominant variant, EG-5, has been spreading across the U.S.

The Georgia Department of Public Health said Friday although there has been an uptick statewide, the number of cases and hospitalizations are "relatively low" compared with Georgia's peak in January 2022 and past summers.

As of 3 p.m. Thursday, Georgia had 2,378,341 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 35, 543 confirmed virus-related deaths, 7,448 probable deaths and 744,038 antigen positive cases. The data was not updated as of noon Friday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported about a 30 percent increase in hospital admissions from July 29-Aug. 5. New admission per 100,000 population in the past week stood at 3.76. More than 230,000 Georgians have been admitted with a COVID-19 diagnosis since August 2020, per CDC data.

County-wide hospitalizations for each state are tracked by the CDC.

"The increases DPH is currently seeing are likely a combination of a new COVID variant, people not prioritizing prevention measures, more summer travel and people at large gatherings and some waning of immunity from vaccination or prior infection," public health officials said in a news release.

EG-5, also known as Eris, is the cause of about 16 percent of new COVID-19 cases in Georgia and about 17 percent new cases nationally, public health officials said. Though Eris can be transmitted earlier than other variants, it does not cause more severe illness.

Eris is detected through COVID-19 testing, and the current COVID-19 vaccine is effective against the new variant.

Public health officials said people 6 months old and older should get vaccinated against COVID-19 as vaccinations are "best protection" against the virus. People should seek treatment if positive for COVID-19.

"DPH will continue to closely monitor COVID data and provide updates as needed," public health officials said in the release.

The health department recommends the following precautions:

• Cover coughs.
• Sneeze into your elbow.
• Throw away used tissues.
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water.
• Stay home if you’re sick.

Find vaccination information here. Schedule to get a vaccination here.