The state\u2019s 1,026 coronavirus cases as of noon has doubled over three days. That\u2019s the same pace cited by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in calling for stronger measures to fight the disease. New York state, though, has far more cases of coronavirus, at more than 25,000, and has closed non-essential businesses and adopted other restrictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Georgia\u2019s increased diagnoses can be attributed to some combination of more testing capacity and more spread of the disease. Of the state\u2019s known cases, more than half \u2013 56 percent \u2013 are people in the 18-to-59 age group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dougherty County has a disproportionate number of cases. As of noon Tuesday, the county had 90 confirmed cases, the third-highest total in the state, despite its population being much lower than metro Atlanta<\/a> counties. Fulton had 184 coronavirus cases as of noon, while DeKalb had 94.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition, Phoebe officials said, more than 1,000 people in the community are awaiting test results for COVID-19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n State public health officials and the CDC said recently they were sending a team of epidemiologists to the Albany<\/a> area to investigate and contain the COVID-19 spread there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The state has sent extra supplies of personal protective equipment to Phoebe Putney, as well as ventilators. Still, the hospital is struggling to fill its constant need for masks, gloves, gowns and face shields. Every day, the hospital\u2019s COVID-19 situation worsens, said Phoebe spokesman Ben Roberts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In other COVID-19 news:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gov. Brian Kemp pushed back<\/strong> against criticism that he\u2019s not doing enough to combat Georgia\u2019s coronavirus outbreak, saying in a Tuesday interview with the AJC that he is trying to strike a balance between public safety and economic vitality, but that he has more \u201carrows left in the quiver.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The governor said his order to ban<\/a> many public gatherings, close<\/a> bars and nightclubs, and authorize officials to shut down any business that doesn\u2019t comply with social distancing requirements will help curb the disease without having to resort to drastic measures such as shelter-in-place rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cobb County, with 86 cases, <\/strong>is set to declare a state of emergency, the Marietta Daily Journal reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ve done our best to try and have informal enforcement of these social distancing [measures],\u201d county Chairman Mike Boyce said at a special-called meeting Tuesday morning. \u201cAnd as we saw this weekend, it\u2019s simply not working . . . everybody went out to the parks.\u201d Following the example of two Cobb cities \u2014 Smyrna and Kennesaw \u2014 the county\u2019s declaration could shutter non-essential businesses and order county residents to shelter in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms<\/strong> issued an executive order Monday evening asking all residents of the city of \u201cstay at their place of residence\u201d for 14 days starting at midnight. The order, which was filed shortly before 9 p.m., compels \u201call businesses to cease non-essential operations at physical locations within the city of Atlanta\u201d as well prohibits \u201call non-essential gatherings of any number of individuals.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Savannah Mayor Van Johnson<\/strong> has issued a shelter-in-place directive for the city, effective at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday. The directive will expire at midnight April 8. According to the directive, residents can leave their homes only for essential activities, governmental functions and business operations such as going to the grocery store, the Savannah Morning News reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond<\/strong> declared a state of emergency, banning public gatherings of 10 or more people \u2014 including funerals \u2014 and imposing a \u201cvoluntary curfew\u201d from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The CDC Foundation <\/strong>announced that Facebook<\/strong> is providing a 2-to-1 matching donation \u2014 up to $10 million \u2014 as part of the foundation\u2019s Facebook Fundraiser<\/a> aimed at generating support to help combat the coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The foundation said it will use the support of Facebook \u201cto help fill gaps and mobilize resources to address fast emerging needs posed by the virus. Contributions will address a number of critical needs, including deploying emergency staffing to U.S. public health agencies, funding medical supplies, increasing lab capacity, providing support to vulnerable communities, and much more.\u2019\u2019 Contributions to the CDC Foundation\u2019s Emergency Response Fund, where Facebook is currently matching donations, can be made on Facebook at www.facebook.com\/cdcfoundation<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University<\/strong> has created a pandemic medicine course that will mobilize the medical school\u2019s faculty and see up to 400 third- and fourth-year MCG students fan out to support public health departments and hospital systems across Georgia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Georgia Department of Public Health<\/strong> said it\u2019s receiving offers from medical professionals and other individuals looking for ways to help with the COVID-19 response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Medical volunteers may be used to answer medical questions coming into the COVID-19 hotline or assist at test specimen collection sites, state officials said. Non-medical volunteers may be used in administrative roles at either the call center or test collection sites or provide interpretation or other skills as needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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