Georgia surpassed 135,000 coronavirus cases Friday as the state continues to grapple with a the growing public health crisis of COVID-19.
The state saw its second highest single-day increase in cases Friday, adding 3,908 new cases and bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 135,183. Hospitalizations and ICU admissions are also continuing to rise. The state had 301 more hospitalizations Friday and 45 more ICU admissions. There have been 14,647 hospitalizations for COVID-19 statewide.
According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, 28 more people have died from COVID-19, bringing the state total to 3,132 deaths.
The state processed 20,456 coronavirus tests Friday and 16% of those were positive. The total number of COVID-19 tests that have come back positive is 10.3%. The state has also processed 103,476 antibody tests. 5.3% of the antibody tests have come back positive.
Earlier Friday, Gov. Brian Kemp called on Georgians to reaffirm their commitment to flatten the curve. Kemp said the virus was spreading in environments like churches, manufacturing plants and long-term care facilities.
“I’m asking all Georgians to do their part,” Kemp said. “After all, it’s the community that defeats this virus, not the government.”
Kemp outlined four steps he said all Georgians should take to get the virus under control. Kemp is asking Georgians to wear a mask, keep physical distance from people who don’t live in their households, continue to wash hands throughout the day and to follow Kemp’s existing executive order.
Kemp’s statements come as the state is engaged in a lawsuit against the city of Atlanta over its mask mandate and amid reports of an unpublished White House report listing Georgia as a state that is in the “red zone.” The report recommends a mask mandate.
“I’m confident Georgians don’t need a mandate to do the right thing,” Kemp said.
Kemp renewed his pledge to protect the “lives and livelihoods” of Georgians, and said that while he believes all Georgians should wear masks, he is not prepared to mandate them.
