COVID-19 cases nearly double each month locally
Though daily tallies remain low since first case reported in March, the first three months of data show steady increase continues
Don’t expect a slow down in the number of cases of COVID-19 anytime soon in Georgia as daily totals continue to increase and the trend toward opening moves more toward pre-viral conditions.
Over the past three months of tracking the increase of positive cases, the numbers have remained on a steady path upward since Polk’s first case showed up on reports provided by the Georgia Department of Public Health. Ever since that fist positive showed up, the County has monthby-month seen figures for positives nearly double.
From March 12 through April 12, 25 cases accumulated. The following periods from April 13 through May 12 and then the rest of May through June 12, the County added 45 more people who tested positive, then 95.
One reason for the increase is the availability of local testing at the Polk Count Health Department in Cedartown, which allows for access to those without transportation to travel outside the county to get a test. That also means more positive that weren’t being found in prior months are now showing up
with more regularity.
As of last Friday ahead of press time — and a good time to pause on the figures with a full quarter of time to track the cases — Polk County had 162 positives reported for COVID-19. Out of that 16 patients required hospitalization, and there remained one death from the virus.
These local increases in people who have tested positive for COVID-19 come alongside statewide increases as well as tallies on Friday for Georgia blew past 55,000 positives, 2,400 deaths and 9,100 hospitalizations. More than 2,000 people have needed ICU treatment as of this time.
National tallies surpassed 2 million positives for the virus last week, and 113,000 deaths were attributed to COVID-19.
Amid the numbers still going up were moves from state government to increase access to activities, which is likely to provide opportunity for the virus to spread with contact between people in social settings.
Gov. Brian Kemp moved late Thursday to ease more social distancing restrictions for businesses amid the coronavirus pandemic, including ending capacity limits for restaurants and lifting the shelter-in-place order for many people 65-years and older.
The governor is also allowing live performance venues and large convention spaces to reopen on July 1 so long as they meet some distancing and sanitizing requirements. Bars will also be allowed to have the greater of up to 50 patrons or 35% of their full capacity, starting June 16.
Professional, youth and amateur sports teams will also be allowed to resume games and practices starting June 16 so long as their respective leagues allow it, according to the governor’s office. Sports leagues have previously been advised that they may draft their own distancing and cleanliness rules.
Seniors in long-term care facilities and those with chronic health conditions including lung disease, moderate to severe asthma, severe heart diseases, compromised immune systems and diabetes are still under a shelter-in-place order through June 30.
Overnight summer camps will be allowed starting June 16 so long as campers and staff can show proof that they tested negative for coronavirus before arriving at camp. Day camps and summer school classes have already been allowed to resume.
The limit on restaurant gatherings, previously set at a maximum of 25 people, will be eliminated entirely starting June 16. Seating arrangements need to allow for six feet of space between groups, according to Kemp’s order.
“For salad bars and buffets, a worker can use cafeteria-style service to serve patrons or the establishment can provide hand sanitizer, install a sneeze guard, enforce social distancing and regularly replace shared utensils to allow patron selfservice,” said a news release from Kemp’s office.
Bars, bowling alleys, barbers, salons, gyms, movie theaters and amusement parks will be allowed to reopen as of Friday if they have not done so yet, pending certain safety requirements.
The latest round of restriction easing comes as Kemp continues pulling back on drastic measures put in place in April to curb the spread of coronavirus. He has cited the need to jump-start the state’s flagging economy, touting a decrease in hospitalizations and infection rates to back his decisions.
Health experts across the country have warned local communities could see an uptick in infections following Memorial Day festivities late last month and as state officials peel back business and distancing requirements.
Those experts, including Georgia’s top public health official, Dr. Kathleen Toomey, have urged people to continue wearing face masks and keep their distance from each other when in public areas.
“We are still battling a pandemic and we need to stay vigilant,” Kemp said at a news conference last week. “Continue to keep your distance, wash your hands and do all the other things we have been saying for weeks and weeks now.”
Current events and time away from phrases like “shelter in place” and “essential businesses” showing up in news headlines does not mean the threat from COVID-19 is neutralized.
“I think the biggest thing right now is, many of us feel like the virus is gone and disappeared. We have to understand there is no on/off switch. It hasn’t disappeared. It’s still here,” said Logan Boss, Northwest Georgia Public Health District Public spokesman.
Voccio strongly recommends that people continue practicing the three main tenets of preventing the spread of the virus — social distancing, wearing a mask where social distancing is difficult, and the strict sanitization of hands and high-touch surfaces at work and home.
The Rome News-Tribune’s Jeremy Stewart and Beau Evans from the Capitol Beat News Service contributed to this report.