Reported covid cases spike in region

The number of reported covid cases in our five counties jumped above 80,000 over the past seven days.

The weekly report from the Georgia Department of Public Health shows 424 additional cases of the virus from Floyd, Bartow, Gordon, Polk and Chattooga counties for the week ending Wednesday.

That’s the most since August but likely is more of a “data dump” of old cases. Overall, 80,283 covid cases have been reported in our five counties since the pandemic began in March 2020.

Statewide, new cases dropped to 3,700 for Sept. 29-Oct. 5, the fewest since mid April.

Public Health also reports a Bartow County resident was the latest Northwest Georgian to die from the virus; 87 others were lost across the state, matching the previous week’s total. The county-by-county breakdown:

Floyd: 185 new cases vs. 49 in the week ending Sept. 28.

Bartow: 155 cases vs. 12 the previous week.

Gordon: 28 cases vs. 23 cases. Polk: 36 cases to 17 last week. Chattooga: 20 more cases than two the previous week.

Also Wednesday, Rome’s hospitals reported 11 covid patients under care, down 2 from Tuesday.

Atrium Health Floyd: 9 patients, down 2 from Tuesday.

Adventhealth Redmond: 2 patients, no change from Tuesday.

Highest since pandemic began: 221 on Sept. 10, 2021.

Lowest since pandemic began: 2 on June 1, 2020, and on May 16, 2022.

Get tested: The free COVID-19 test site at the Coosa Valley Fairgrounds is closed this week because of the fair. Normal hours resume next week, 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.