DPH provides Update on COVID-19 Trends in Georgia

The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is providing the following information regarding the fight against COVID-19 in Georgia.

Positive Indicators

COVID-19 Cases

  • From 9/1 to 9/8, the seven-day average of new cases reported decreased 11.7%.
  • The seven-day average of new cases reported is down 48% from our peak July 24.
  • The highest % of case numbers still come from the high population counties in metro Atlanta (Fulton, Gwinnett, Cobb have the highest case numbers, as before) but these counties continue to experience decreases in case numbers.

Testing

  • As of Sept. 8, the state reported over 2.5 million COVID-19 tests.
  • DPH is operating 180+ SPOCs, including mobile and pop-up locations statewide.
  • The number of specimens collected at DPH SPOCs has now passed 946,000.

The mega-testing site at Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International airport will close Friday, Sept. 11.

Positivity Rate

The positivity rates (7-day moving average) for PCR testing have decreased from 10.1% on 8/24/20 to 8.9% on 8/31/20 to 8.2% on 9/8/20. Despite overall testing numbers decreasing statewide, the positivity rate also continues to decrease.

Hospitalizations

Daily hospitalizations for COVID-19 have decreased 13.4% since Sept. 1. Hospitalizations have decreased 48.2% since a daily high of 3,200 July 30.

Emergency Department Visits

COVID-19 Cases Among K-12 School Aged Children*

*Report reflects week of Aug. 24 – Aug. 28.

Areas of Concern

Outbreaks

Aug. 30 – Sept. 5: 82

These outbreaks are occurring in settings where people are physically congregating and underscore the need for physical distancing and source control.