Georgia COVID-19 numbers surge as more enter hospitals

ATLANTA — Leaders of some of Georgia’s hospitals told Gov. Brian Kemp in a meeting Wednesday that they’re seeing increasing numbers of COVID-19 patients, although they said in some cases those infected with the coronavirus do not appear as gravely ill as patients who were hospitalized in earlier waves.

The Republican governor continued to express optimism about Georgia’s level of infection compared to other states, as well as about vaccines on the horizon. But some hospital leaders warned that they expect things to keep getting worse, while many said they struggle to hire nurses and that staff members are exhausted nearly nine months into the pandemic.

“While we are keeping careful eye on the data, we are encouraged that — at least as of now — our overall numbers for both cases in nursing homes and active hospitalizations are still below our summer surge,” Kemp said.

The meeting came as the number of virus cases in Georgia continues to surge. The seven- day rolling average of molecular and rapid antigen tests rose above 3,600 on Wednesday. Georgia’s average for molecular tests alone, before rapid tests were in wide use, peaked in July at 3,745.

“I think it’s important for all of us to stay grounded that this third surge is very different than the first and the second ones,” said Bryce Gartland of Atlanta-based Emory Healthcare. “This one is much more insidious in nature. It’s much more building in nature.”

Gartland said the patients Emory is admitting are younger and less likely to end up in an intensive care unit or on a ventilator. But he and other hospital leaders said demand from other patients was higher than in earlier surges, and those other patients are much sicker.