Coronavirus cases in Georgia are on the decline. However, for one age group in the state, new cases are up almost 30%. The 18 to 22 year old age group — the group the Georgia Department of Public Health classifies as being of college age — has seen a dramatic increase in coronavirus cases in the last week.

For the week ending Sept. 11, Georgia confirmed 3,692 new cases of coronavirus among 18 to 22 year olds. The previous week there were 2,876 new cases among the same age group.

According to health department spokeswoman Nancy Nydam, there are several reasons this age group is seeing a spike in COVID-19 cases.

“There are any number of reasons for spikes in this particular age group,” Nydam said. “More testing among returning college students, more large social gatherings on and off college campuses, large gatherings at bars, more people in this age group out and about and spending time with family and friends — and not adhering to basic COVID-19 prevention measures recommended for everyone.”

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Those prevention measures, for those who may have somehow missed it, include the following:

Wear a mask
Avoid large groups
Practice social distancing (6 feet between yourself and others)

Wash your hands frequently
Follow the guidelines in the Governor’s Executive Order

Nydam also recommends getting a flu shot, not because it helps fight COVID-19 — it doesn’t — but because it decreases the strain on the health care system.