CORONAVIRUS IN GEORGIA: Ban on vacation rentals allowed to expire this week

Here’s a roundup of what’s happening so far today, April 28: (Click here for the previous day)

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• There are almost 24,844 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Georgia and 1,036 deaths. The Georgia Department of Public Health updated its website for more hourly updates. Previously, the department updated the numbers twice a day.
• Georgia is now the 11th state to reach 1,000 deaths from the virus in the United States, according to RealClear Politics coronavirus tracker.
• The amount of COVID-19 tests administered in Georgia hit a record on Tuesday with 13,000 reported. There are now 49 testing sites across the state in addition to nine run by the Georgia National Guard. Find a COVID-19 testing site in Georgia
• Channel 2 investigative reporter Mark Winne first reported that testing is expanding to asymptomatic essential workers, including grocery workers, at nine testing sites across Georgia.
• Department of Health numbers seem to indicate there is a flattening of the curve
• Governor Kemp says Georgia is using 992 ventilators out of 2,846 in the state. The governor says its the lowest level of use since the widespread pandemic began.

• The CDC and local health officials will begin to offer random, voluntary testing for COVID-19 antibodies in DeKalb and Fulton counties.
• A computer research model grimly predicts the possibility of a second wave of coronavirus infections and deaths this summer in Georgia.
• Gov. Brian Kemp discussed what he called a difficult decision to reopen some businesses in Georgia during a news conference.
• Kemp said medically fragile people in Georgia should shelter in place until May 13.
• Kemp said he will allow the restrictions on vacation rentals in Georgia to expire on April 30. The original order was in response to local officials concerns about Georgia becoming a vacation destination during the pandemic.

How is the coronavirus impacting what you pay for insurance? An expert weighs in GSU professor Dr. Bill Custer sorts it all out.

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