COVID-19 infections in Georgia are slowly increasing, but transmission rates still remain low. Data released by the Georgia Department of Health on May 11 shows the state has a 7.5% two-week positivity rate, up from 6% on May 4 [GA DPH now only releases COVID data once a week]. Still, the current rate remains well below where the state was in early January, when the positivity rate hovered around 35%.
Since the start of the pandemic in March 2020, Georgia has confirmed 1,962,028 cases of the virus and 31,693 deaths. Public health officials report another 6,393 deaths as probable COVID deaths.
‘A tragic milestone’
Health officials say more than one million people have died from the virus nationwide. On May 12, President Joe Biden issued a statement:
“Today, we mark a tragic milestone: one million American lives lost to COVID-19. One million empty chairs around the dinner table. Each an irreplaceable loss. Each leaving behind a family, a community, and a nation forever changed because of this pandemic. Jill and I pray for each of them.”
In his statement, the President urged Congress to approve more funding for COVID treatments, vaccines, and tests:
“As a nation, we must not grow numb to such sorrow. To heal, we must remember. We must remain vigilant against this pandemic and do everything we can to save as many lives as possible, as we have with more testing, vaccines, and treatments than ever before. It’s critical that Congress sustain these resources in the coming months.”
Biden will also issue a proclamation on Thursday ordering flags at the White House and all federal buildings to be flown at half-staff until next Monday to mark the one million deaths.
Northeast Georgia COVID data
As in the rest of the state, across Northeast Georgia, COVID-19 transmission rates remain low. Data from District 2 Public Health shows the two-week positivity rate is still below 10% in all 13 counties the District serves.
For the two-week time period ending May 5, Habersham County’s positivity rate was slightly down to 2.7%, with 20 new cases identified. White County’s positivity rate was up slightly from 7.8% to 8.2%, with 57 new cases diagnosed.
Banks County had the district’s lowest two-week positivity rate at 1.1%. Franklin and Towns counties had the next lowest at 2.1% each.
Although it has one of the highest full vaccination rates in the region, data shows Rabun County had the highest positivity rate for the 14 days ending on May 5. Rabun’s positivity rate of 10% is on the threshold indicating a ‘medium’ community spread. The county reported 47 news cases.
After recording the highest positivity rate in District 2 on April 28, Lumpkin County saw some improvement, dropping from 8.7% to a 7% positivity with 36 new cases reported as of May 5.
District Two Public Health counties include Banks, Dawson, Forsyth, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, and White.
Current District 2 COVID death tolls compared to April 28, 2022:
Banks: 85 (+1)
Dawson: 97 (-)
Forsyth: 381 (-)
Franklin: 80 (+2)
Habersham: 240 (-)
Hall: 796 (+4)
Hart: 61 (-)
Lumpkin: 112 (-)
Rabun: 80 (-)
Stephens: 132 (-)
Towns: 89 (-)
Union: 142 (+1)
White: 143 (-)
