State ends weekly report on covid after 4 years

Georgia’s Department of Public Health has ended its weekly update on new covid cases as well as virus fatalities after more than four years.

The final status report was issued March 27, confirms Nancy Nydam of Public Health. A specific reason wasn’t given but new cases have continued to drop.

The final report included 1,330 newly reported cases in Georgia, including 57 from our five counties. It also shows 38 fatalities statewide, with one each from Floyd and Bartow counties.

The state began the status reports in March 2020 as covid continued to spread. At first daily, the reports then transitioned to weekdays and finally to weekly.

Replacing it is a covid resource website from the state with updates on questions about the virus and getting treatment. For more, visit dph.georgia.gov/covid-19.

A county-by-county review of the pandemic’s impact here, through March 27, follows:

Floyd:♦ 28,860 confirmed cases since March 2020 with 480 deaths and 119 others where covid likely was a contributor.

Bartow:♦ 28,022 cases; 440 deaths and 67 others where the virus was a factor.

Gordon:♦ 14,398 cases, 271 deaths and 47 others from probable causes.

Polk:♦ 11,726 cases, 186 deaths with 36 others likely involving the virus.

Chattooga:♦ 6,253 cases, 135 deaths and 21 others where the virus was a probable contributor.

Since the first death in our area in March 2020, through last month, a combined 1,512 residents in

Floyd, Bartow, Gordon, Polk and Chattooga counties have died from the virus while another 290 were lost to health issues involving covid.

Georgia’s death toll was at 36,488 people with another 7,581 dead from “probable” causes.

Testing: Free covid tests continue at the Coosa Valley Fairgrounds in Rome Monday through Saturday.