DPH moves to Weekly COVID-19 Data Reporting

The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is transitioning from daily to weekly COVID-19 data reporting.  Case counts and vaccination updates will be published on the DPH website every Wednesday beginning April 20.  Weekly intervals provide a more complete picture than day-to-day changes or data fluctuations when determining areas of concern or COVID’s trajectory in the state. Given the number of at-home COVID tests that do not get reported, there is now a greater focus on other indicators such as hospital admissions, hospital occupancy, and overall vaccination rates when assessing the community impact of COVID-19.  Additional data that are reported weekly (e.g., County Indicator Report, Breakthrough Case Report, School-Aged Surveillance Report, etc.) will continue to be published on their current publication days.  Additionally, per new CDC guidance, only positive and negative PCR test results and positive antigen tests are required to be reported.  Facilities no longer need to report negative results from antigen or rapid tests, and they no longer need to report any positive or negative results for antibody tests. Home tests also are not reportable.