GA Ends Record-Setting Weekend With 2200 More Coronavirus Cases

GEORGIA — After setting a new record for the most amount of coronavirus cases confirmed in a 24-hour period, Georgia rounded out the weekend with another 2,207 new cases on Monday. This is the seventh straight day that Georgia has reported more than 1,000 new cases.

As of Monday afternoon, the Georgia Department of Public Health reported a cumulative total of 79,417 cases of COVID-19 and 2,784 deaths. Georgia also reported 10,824 hospitalizations, and 2,289 admissions to intensive-care units. That's an increase of 2,207 cases from Sunday, six new deaths, 113 hospitalizations and 21 admissions to intensive-care units.

No information is available from Georgia about how many patients have recovered.

On Monday, Gov. Brian Kemp extended the public health state of emergency and existing COVID-19 safety measures.

The public health state of emergency is now extended through 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 11. The public health state of emergency allows for enhanced coordination across government and the private sector for supply procurement, comprehensive testing, and healthcare capacity.

A second executive order Kemp extended on Monday continues to require social distancing, bans gatherings of more than 50 people unless there is 6-feet between each person, outlines mandatory criteria for businesses, and requires sheltering in place for those living in long-term care facilities and the medically fragile. The order also outlines that the State Board of Education must provide "rules, regulations, and guidance for the operation of public elementary and secondary schools for local boards of education" in accordance with guidance from Dr. Kathleen Toomey, the Department of Public Health, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. The order runs through 11:59 p.m. on July 15.

"As we continue our fight against COVID-19 in Georgia, it is vital that Georgians continue to heed public health guidance by wearing a mask, washing their hands regularly, and practicing social distancing," Kemp said. "We have made decisions throughout the pandemic to protect the lives - and livelihoods - of all Georgians by relying on data and the advice of public health officials.

"While we continue to see a decreasing case fatality rate, expanded testing, and adequate hospital surge capacity, in recent days, Georgia has seen an increase in new cases reported and current hospitalizations. Given these trends, I am extending previous COVID-19 safety requirements and guidelines that were due to expire on June 30 at 11:59 p.m. Dr. Kathleen Toomey and the Department of Public Health, along with our local public health partners, will continue to monitor ongoing cases and related data to ensure that we are taking appropriate measures moving forward. Together, we can win the fight against COVID-19 and emerge stronger."

Georgia set a new record Sunday for confirmed coronavirus cases — 2,225 — after a one-day dip Saturday of 1,549 new cases for the day, according to state health officials.

About 8.9 percent of the 823,117 coronavirus tests administered so far have returned positive results.

Kemp said earlier this month he isn't prepared to mandate the wearing of face masks as has been the case in 18 other states including North Carolina. On Wednesday, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper issued the executive order mandating masks for employees and customers at all businesses in the state.

Kemp said he strongly encourages the use of masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and is setting the example by wearing his own mask as he visits communities around the state.

"Mandating that I think is a bridge too far for me right now," Kemp said at a news conference Friday. "We have to have the public buy in. We have asked our citizens to be a part of the solution and not part of the problem. It's a virus. It's going to spread. We're not going to stop if from happening."

Counties in or near metro Atlanta continue to have the highest number of cases, with Gwinnett still in the lead.

• Gwinnett County: 7,755 confirmed cases
• Fulton County: 6,648 confirmed cases
• DeKalb County: 5,469 confirmed cases
• Cobb County: 4,630 confirmed cases
• Hall County: 3,138 confirmed cases

All Georgia statistics are available on the state's COVID-19 website.

Globally, more than 10.2 million people have been infected by COVID-19, and more than 502,000 people have died, Johns Hopkins University reported Monday. In the United States, more than 2.5 million people have been infected and over 125,000 people have died from COVID-19.

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