COVID-19 case rate has increased 204% in last 2 weeks as Delta variant spreads in GA

ATLANTA — The COVID-19 case rate has increased 204% over the last two weeks in Georgia, health officials said Friday.

Officials with the Georgia Department of Health said that yesterday, new cases totaled 4,612 – which is the highest daily number since mid-February. Hospitalizations have increased by 50% and deaths have increase about 18% in the same time period.

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Health officials are urging unvaccinated Georgians to get vaccinated as the highly-contagious Delta variant spreads. Only 40% of Georgians are currently fully vaccinated.

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates the Delta variant accounts for 78% of new COVID cases in Georgia, making vaccination more urgent than ever.

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Virtually everyone who is hospitalized or dying is unvaccinated, Georgia health officials said.

“Unfortunately, we can expect COVID numbers to keep growing. People who are unvaccinated or skip their second dose of vaccine are targets for infection,” said Kathleen E. Toomey, M.D., M.P.H., commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Health. “Getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and the Delta variant. High vaccination coverage will reduce spread of the virus in your community and elsewhere - and help prevent new variants from emerging.”

All Georgians aged 12 and older are urged to get vaccinated against COVID-19. If you receive either Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, you must get your second dose to ensure you are fully protected. Individuals are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their final dose of vaccine.

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