COVID-19 update: 2 new deaths reported

Gordon County’s number of total deaths attributed to COVID-19 rose to 25 on Tuesday following the addition of two new deaths within the past week.

The 3 p.m. report released Thursday by the Department of Public Health showed Gordon County’s total confirmed cases at 1,399 and total deaths at 25. Those figures represent the addition of 19 new cases since 3 p.m. Wednesday and 441 new cases over the previous two weeks.

The total number of deaths in Gordon had held steady at 23 since the addition of two new fatal cases on July 28, but the 24th death was reported last Saturday, Aug. 15, and the 25th death was reported earlier this week.

Statewide, the Thursday DPH report showed a total of 246,741 positive cases of COVID-19 in Georgia, with 4,904 deaths. Those numbers represents 2,759 new cases and 55 new deaths in the state since 3 p.m. Wednesday.

Cases are assigned to the county of the patient’s residence, not necessarily where the test or treatment was performed.

Gordon County Emergency Management Agency Director Taylor urged locals to continue to follow CDC and DPH guidelines for washing hands and social distancing.

Additionally, the DPH recommends that residents:

Listen to and follow the directions of your state and local authorities.

If you feel sick, stay home. Do not go to work. Contact your medical provider.

If your children are sick, keep them at home. Do not send them to school. Contact your medical provider.

If someone in your household has tested positive for the coronavirus, keep the entire household at home. Do not go to work. Do not go to school. Contact your medical provider.

If you are an older person, stay home and away from other people.

If you are a person with a serious underlying health condition that can put you at increased risk (for example, a condition that impairs your lung or heart function or weakens your immune system), stay home and away from other people.

Even if you are young, or otherwise healthy, you are at risk and your activities can increase the risk for others. It is critical that you do your part to stop the spread of the coronavirus.