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Good news: Number of COVID-19 patients drops to under 100 in area hardest hit by coronavirus

ALBANY, Ga. — There’s some good coronavirus news emerging from the hardest-hit area in Georgia.

For the first time in weeks, Phoebe Putney Health System’s COVID-19 caseload has dropped below 100, marking a significant moment in southwest Georgia’s battle against the virus.

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At noon on Wednesday, the hospital system released its numbers.

  • Total Positive Results – 2,292
  • Total Positive Deaths from Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital – 80
  • Total Positive Deaths from Phoebe Sumter – 22
  • Total Positive Patients in Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital – 64
  • Total Positive Patients in Phoebe Sumter Medical Center - 20
  • Total Positive Patients in Phoebe Worth Medical Center – 1
  • Total Patients Awaiting Test Results – 115
  • Total Negative Results – 4,685
  • Total Patients Recovered – 1,730

“Today, throughout our hospitals, we are caring for 99 patients who have either tested positive for COVID-19 or are patients under investigation for the virus. While we are grateful that number has finally dipped below 100, it remains a significant number, and we continue to devote extraordinary resources to caring for those patients. We are also beginning to increase non-COVID related services. Our environmental services teams are doing exceptional work to clean and disinfect hospital units where COVID-19 patients have been cared for. We are going above and beyond guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and we’re thankful that the National Guard has sent specialized teams to help us clean other areas throughout our health system to ensure that we safely care for every patient we have the privilege of serving,” said Scott Steiner, Phoebe Putney Health System Chief Executive Officer.

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Hundreds of people have died in the southwest Georgia community, which includes Dougherty, Mitchell, Baker, Terrell, Sumter, Colquitt, Worth and other counties. Thousands of people in the area have tested positive, as well.

The area continues to be one of the hardest-hit areas in Georgia. It’s not exactly clear how the virus had been brought to Albany, but officials had floated the idea that funerals for two people who died in March may have further spread the Coronavirus.

#COVID_19 Update: As of noon today, we have 2,292 total positive test results and 4,685 negative results. "Our...

Posted by Phoebe Putney Health System on Wednesday, 29 April 2020