GA Coronavirus Update: Nearly 19,000 Cases, 733 Deaths

GEORGIA — Models suggest the state may have already reached its peak daily deaths, although 60 more people died from the coronavirus this weekend, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health.

As of Monday at noon, there have been 733 deaths, 18,947 cases, and 3,550 hospitalizations in Georgia. Deaths make up 3.87 percent of Georgia cases. From the numbers released at noon on Saturday, this is an increase of 1,278 cases, 130 hospitalizations and 60 deaths. Since Sunday at noon, the increase was 646 cases, 86 hospitalized and 46 deaths.

According to projection data updated Friday released by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), Georgia is 13 days past its peak in daily deaths. The IHME model projected April 7, a day that saw 100 deaths, as the peak for the state. The organization uses overall trends to identify the peak date, rather than the single highest reporter number.

The current data from this model also suggests it may be possible to relax social distancing protocol – while still maintaining containment strategies such as testing, contract tracing, isolation and limiting gathering size – after June 15.

Fulton County still has recorded the most coronavirus cases thus far, with 2,174 cases and 78 deaths. Dougherty County in southwest Georgia, where Albany is the site of the state's worst hotspot, is third with 1,436 cases but has recorded the most deaths with 97, more than any other Georgia county. DeKalb County surpassed Dougherty County when it reached 1,508 cases, and 25 deaths.

The other counties in the top 10 include Cobb, with 1,174 cases and 54 deaths; Gwinnett, with 1,164 cases and 42 deaths; Hall, with 649 cases and nine deaths; Clayton, with 535 cases and 18 deaths; Henry, with 380 cases and eight deaths; Sumter, with 332 cases and 16 deaths; and Cherokee, with 312 cases and eight deaths. Glascock and Taliaferro are the only counties to report no coronavirus cases.

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The Georgia Department of Public Health Lab has tested 5,362 people for coronavirus, with 1,000 positive. Commercial laboratories have tested 78,966 people with 17,947 positive.

The Georgia Department of Public Health is increasing the number of specimen collection sites statewide for coronavirus testing, and is revising the current testing criteria to handle more testing of Georgia residents.

Effective immediately, all residents who show signs of the coronavirus will be eligible for testing. Health-care workers, first responders, law enforcement and long-term care facility residents and staff will still be prioritized for testing regardless of whether they are or are not symptomatic.

According to the Johns Hopkins University of Medicine, there have been more than 762,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States and 71,000 of those have already recovered, as of Monday morning. However, there have also been 40,000 deaths. Worldwide there are more than 2.4 million cases and 166,000 deaths.

See more:

• GA Coronavirus: 4 Ways To Make Face Masks
• Kroger Now Requiring Employees To Wear Masks: GA Coronavirus
• CDC Botched Coronavirus Testing Kits: Report

Long-term care facilities around the state have recorded multiple cases and deaths of residents due to coronavirus. Check your city below:

• Three Care Homes In Grayson, Loganville Report Coronavirus Cases
• Three Care Homes In Alpharetta Report Coronavirus Cases, 1 Death
• Three Care Homes In Roswell Report Coronavirus Cases
• Two Care Homes In Sandy Springs Report Coronavirus Cases, 1 Death
• Two Care Homes In Canton Report Coronavirus Cases, 1 Death
• Five Care Homes In Woodstock Report Coronavirus Cases, Deaths
• Three Care Homes In Cumming Report Coronavirus Cases, Deaths
• Coronavirus: 1 In 4 Infected At Cartersville Nursing Home
• Coronavirus: 12 Infections But No Deaths At Douglasville Facility