Coronavirus cases in Georgia up to 42; state creates site for reporting numbers

ATLANTA — As new cases are confirmed, Gov. Kemp and the Georgia Department of Public Health created a page for COVID-19 cases in Georgia.

“This page will replace nightly press releases from the Governor’s Office and DPH and update every evening at midnight to ensure accurate and regular information is provided to the public.”

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The number of cases of presumed positive and positive cases in Georgia went up from 38 to 42 since Thursday night.

CONFIRMED CASES:

• Bartow (4)
• Charlton (1)
• Cherokee (2)
• Cobb (8)
• Coweta (1)
• DeKalb (5)
• Fayette (5)
• Floyd (1)
• Fulton (8)
• Gordon (2)
• Gwinnett (2)
• Lee (1)
• Lowndes (1)
• Polk (1)

Most of the ages of patients are people 18 to 59. Forty five percent are 60 years or younger, 45 percent are 60 years or over.

Children seem to handle the virus the best; only two percent are younger than 17 years old.

State officials announced Thursday morning that a 67-year-old man with underlying health conditions who contracted the virus last week died at WellStar Kennestone Hospital in Cobb County.

Kemp announced in a news conference Thursday afternoon that some of those cases may be linked to a church service in Bartow County. Health officials are working with that church to notify and test other members who may have attended the same service.

Public Health Commissioner Dr. Kathleen Toomey said right now the state can do about 50 tests a day for the virus and by next week will be able to do 100 tests a day. She also said the state is considering creating testing sites statewide, which could be set up as early as Monday.

Right now the state has 500 test kits Toomey told Channel 2′s Richard Elliot. She thinks the more people are informed the less fear there will be.

“I think the more we can dispel the misinformation, the more we can approach this in a much more, less panicked way. What i’m concerned about is when people panic and are frightened. They make bad decisions for themselves and their family,” Toomey said.

She says 80 percent of those who get COVID-19 will experience mild symptoms similar to a cold, flu or even allergies.

“The vast majority of people with this infection have very mild symptoms and may not even recognize they’re infected. That’s the good news. The bad news is that means you may be spreading the virus to others and not be aware,” Toomey said.

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Kemp urged all families to take extra precautions with their elderly family members. He said that one of his top priorities as coronavirus continues to spread in Georgia is to protect the elderly.

Those over the age of 60 or anyone with chronic health conditions are more at risk to develop complications from the virus than other individuals, according to health experts.

Kemp encouraged all families to come up with ways to keep their elderly family members more isolated.

“We need to help them dramatically limit their exposure to the public for the foreseeable future,” Kemp said.

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