NE Health District Adds 337 New COVID-19 Cases, Four Deaths

The Northeast Health District added 163 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Saturday based on molecular tests and 174 cases based on antigen rapid tests as well as four deaths from the disease with the release of the Daily Status Report.

One of the added deaths was in Oconee County, and another was in Clarke County.

The seven-day rolling average of added confirmed cases based on the molecular test as well as added cases from the less reliable antigen tests increased, as did the rolling average of added deaths in the 10-county District.

The Oconee County death was of a 76-year-old female without a known chronic condition, while the Clarke County death was of a female without a chronic condition aged 90 plus.

Also included in the Saturday Department of Public Health Daily Status Report was the death of a an 89-year-old male without a chronic condition in Elbert County and the death of a 90-plus-year old male without a known chronic condition in Jackson County.

The seven-day rolling average of added deaths increased from 0.9 on Friday to 1.3 on Saturday.

The addition of the 163 new molecular tests confirmed cases resulted in an increase in the seven-day rolling average of added cases to 119.3 from 113.9 on Friday–a level not reached since Sept. 21.

Only Morgan of the District’s 10 counties did not add cases. Oconee County added eight cases and Clarke County added 38. In both counties, the seven-day rolling average of added cases increased.

The 174 positive antigen tests pushed up the seven-day rolling average of added cases based on that test from 28.1 on Friday to 49.1 on Saturday.

Every county in the District added antigen-based cases, with Oconee County adding 11 and Clarke County adding 47.

The Georgia Department of Public Health, in a report on School Aged COVID-19 Surveillance Data, two weeks ago began combining the results of the molecular (PCR) and antigen tests to give an overall assessment of change in COVID-19 in the counties and the whole state.

Clarke County over the last 14 days has had a decreasing case rate per population for all age categories, while Oconee County has shown little change. The state has had increasing case rates across all age categories.

The Georgia Hospital Association (GHA) and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) reported on Saturday that the number of COVID-19 patients at area hospitals (83) decreased by two from the day before, that the number of ICU beds in use (59) decreased by eight from the day before, and that the number of adult ventilators in use (28) was the same as the day before.

For more local reporting and for state data, please go to Oconee County Observations.