Rolling Averages Of COVID Cases, Deaths Increase In NE District

The Northeast Health District added 189 confirmed COVID-19 cases and three deaths attributed to the disease with the release of the Department of Public Health Daily Status Report on Wednesday.

The seven-day rolling average of added cases in the 10-county district jumped from 159.6 on Tuesday to 165.4 on Wednesday, the highest point that average has ever reached. The previous high had been 160.4 a month ago, on Aug. 2.

While the state as a whole is experiencing a decline in cases, the 10-counties that make up the Northeast Health District are experiencing an unmistakable increase that goes back to Aug. 24, or just after the University of Georgia began its fall session.

Every county except Elbert added cases in the Wednesday Daily Status Report, but Clarke County had 79 of the 189 added cases, and Oconee County added eight.

The University of George released its third COVID-19 Health And Exposure Update on Wednesday, showing 97 Positive COVID-19 tests from its surveillance testing in the last week, up from 32 for the previous week, 186 positive tests at the University Health Center, up from 38 a week earlier, and 126 positive tests at Athens and Local Community sites, up from 33 in the previous week.

The seven-day rolling average of added deaths for the Northeast Health District increased to 2.9 on Wednesday from 2.6 on Tuesday.

The Georgia Hospital Association and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency on Wednesday reported that area hospitals had 82 COVID-19 patients, down from 104 on Tuesday, 63 ICU Beds In Use, up from 61 on Tuesday, and 31 ventilators in use, up from 27 on Tuesday.

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