CORONAVIRUS IN GEORGIA: Least amount of patients hospitalized statewide in a month

GEORGIA — Here’s a roundup of what’s happening so far today, May 9: (Click here for the previous day)

Have questions about the spread of coronavirus? We have an entire section dedicated to coverage of the outbreak. CLICK HERE for more.

• Today (Saturday) marks the lowest number of COVID-19 positive patients currently hospitalized statewide (1,203) since hospitals began reporting this data on April 8.
• Today also marks the lowest total of ventilators in use (897 with 1,945 available). Gov. Brian Kemp shared the good news on Twitter Saturday morning, adding “We will win this fight together!”
• The state’s number of confirmed COVID-19 cases is up to 32,568 and 1,401 deaths as of Saturday morning. The Georgia Department of Public Health updated its website for more hourly numbers.
• The director of the Atlanta-based CDC, Robert Redfield, is in self-quarantine after being exposed to someone at the White House who tested positive for coronavirus.
• Starting Sunday, if you are uninsured and have symptoms, you can get a free test at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church.
• DeKalb County is targeting some of the hardest hit areas to try and stop the spread of the coronavirus. People are back out again today handing out face masks and sanitizer in the area near South DeKalb Mall.
• Clinical trials are underway to test a drug called “Gimsilumab” for use on some of the most seriously ill COVID-19 patients.
• The Department of Public Health now reports that every county in Georgia has confirmed cases of coronavirus.
• Gov. Brian Kemp’s office confirmed to Channel 2 Action News that the state has doubled its coronavirus testing in the last 11 days, with a total of 110,000 people tested in that time.
• The percentage of people tested who test positive for COVID-19 dropped another 2% from last week, down to 14% altogether. Kemp’s office also said reports for hospitalizations and ICU needs continue to fall.
• Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park will reopen access to park trails and several parking lots starting Monday.
• The Chattahooochee River National Recreation Area will reopen recreational access to park grounds May 11. All parks and river access will reopen as will several parking lots.

Metro doctor says it's perfectly safe to have elective surgeries done Hospital have started easing back to allow people to have elective surgeries following the coronavirus shutdown.

© 2020 Cox Media Group