Georgia’s Northeast Health District, which includes Oconee and Clarke counties, added 11 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 with the noon Daily Status Report of the Department of Public Health on Sunday.
Those 11 cases are up from seven added in the noon Daily Status Report on Saturday but down dramatically from the 27 added on Friday and the 46 added on April 7. Included are two new cases in Oconee County and one in Clarke County.
The Northeast Health District added no new deaths on Sunday as a result of COVID-19.
The generally positive trends for the Northeast Region parallel those for the state as a whole.
The number of new cases added at noon on Sunday in Georgia was the smallest added on a daily basis going back to March 30.
The state reported only five new deaths attributed to the Novel Coronavirus with the noon Sunday Daily Status Report, the smallest number added on a daily basis going back to March 28.
The new data suggest a smoothing and possible flattening of the curve for the disease in the state.
Caution From Area Leaders
Area governmental leaders issues a release on Facebook on Saturday afternoon noting the positive developments.
“We just wrapped up another conference call update with both hospitals and other local healthcare providers,” the group wrote. “This week, we were also joined by the Department of Public Health.”
“Fortunately, we are seeing good news locally and cases continue to be managed,” they wrote. “Social distancing is making a significant impact, and our providers ask us to continue to follow the guidelines put forth by our federal, state and local officials.”
“While overall we are seeing a leveling in cases,” they wrote, “there are a couple areas of concern.
“Across the state, we're seeing an increase in cases in nursing homes,” according to the message. “This could result in more hospital demand. The state is actively working with these facilities to slow the spread.
“Secondly, we're seeing more rural counties with increases in cases. Again, overall, our providers feel we are well prepared at this time.”
Signees And Hospitals
The message was signed by Oconee County Representatives Houston Gaines and Marcus Wiedower as well as Oconee County Board of Commissioners Chair John Daniell and Watkinsville Mayor Bob Smith.
Others listed on the release were Athens Rep. Spencer Frye, Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz, Winterville Mayor Dodd Ferrelle, and Senators Bill Cowsert and Frank Ginn. Cowsert represents Oconee County in the Georgia Senate.
“Our hospitals have the supplies necessary, but are preparing for further need,” the group wrote. “Testing remains limited due to supplies, and all are actively working to increase capability.
“Both hospitals have made plans to increase ICU bed capacity as necessary, but have not had to do so to date and are in a good position with available space,” according to the statement.
Charts
I have included three updated charts based on the data released in the noon Daily Status Report for Sunday.
The Department of Public Health data now show that all but two of Georgia’s 159 counties–Taliaferro and Glascock–now have COVID-19 confirmed cases. Both Taliaferro and Glascock are small counties west of Augusta.
The Department of Public Health report also, for the first time, includes trend lines for both confirmed cases and number of deaths in the state.
Chart 1 below provides those trend lines for the Northeast Health District since the first case was recorded in Clarke County.
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| Chart 1 (Click To Enlarge) |
Chart 2 below shows the cumulative data for the state. Two of these four charts are now part of the Daily Status report but minus the data labels.
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| Chart 2 (Click To Enlarge) |
Chart 3 shows the added number of deaths and added number of new confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state.
This chart provides the clearest data showing the slowdown in these two statistics in recent days.
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| Chart 3 (Click To Enlarge) |
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