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Georgia Coronavirus Updates: 10 Deaths Reported, Legislature In Quarantine
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Read the latest coronavirus coverage from GPB News here.
The death toll from COVID-19 in Georgia has risen to 10, the Georgia General Assembly has been asked to self-quarantine after a state senator was diagnosed and Georgia health officials have finally released numbers for how many tests have been performed across the state.
As of noon Thursday, March 19, there were 287 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Georgia, and just over 1,800 tests have been performed by state and commercial labs.
Here is the latest coronavirus news from Georgia for Thursday, March 19, 2020.
Death toll rises to ten
Ten people have died from COVID-19 so far, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health noon update. DPH confirmed two patients at Phoebe Putney Hospital in Albany died Wednesday, while Emory Healthcare announced late Wednesday a patient died "despite the heroic efforts of our physicians, nurses and care team. Last week, a 67-year-old man with underlying health conditions died at WellStar Kennestone Hospital in Cobb County.
Legislature in quarantine
Georgia lawmakers are being asked to self-quarantine through the end of the month after state Sen. Brandon Beach (R-Alpharetta) notified leadership he tested positive for COVID-19. Beach was at the Capitol as late as Monday, when lawmakers approved a public health emergency declaration for the state. In a statement, Beach said that he was experiencing symptoms as far back as March 10, was tested for coronavirus on Saturday, March 14, and still came to the Capitol while awaiting results.
Speaking on a local radio show Thursday morning, Gov. Kemp weighed in, saying “this is a good example of why people need to do what we're asking to do… The biggest thing is social distance yourself, use good practices, wash your hands, etc.”
Georgia coronavirus testing expanded, but still limited
The Georgia Recorder took a deep dive into testing capacity across the state, including drive-through options in Columbus and Valdosta. From the story:
The Georgia Recorder contacted officials in each of the state’s 18 public health districts and learned supplies are limited where they are available, and tests will only be given out to select people for the foreseeable future, typically those who are especially at risk from the infection or those in sensitive jobs such as medical workers.
GPB's Rickey Bevington interviewed reporter Ross Williams about the story, and you can listen here.
A struggle for supplies in southwest Georgia
There are 43 positive COVID-19 cases at Phoebe Putney Hospital in Albany, the hospital reports, including four deaths. The update as of noon Thursday is not fully included in the state’s numbers, as there is a lag in testing and reporting.
Hospital officials also said that one death from the illness was confirmed post-mortem, as the person died on the way to the hospital before even being tested.
There are 424 patients awaiting test results at home, and another 60 or so waiting in hospitals.
Six employees have tested positive, and the hospital’s chief executive officer Scott Steiner said finding supplies is “a daily struggle.”
“Every day, we know exactly how many units of each of these critical supplies we have, we know our daily usage rate, and we know how many days on hand we have left,” Steiner said. “We’ve gotten down as low as a day or two worth of supplies on some vital equipment. Thankfully, we’ve managed to avoid running out, but it takes constant work, literally hour by hour. We can’t just order from one of our normal suppliers and expect a truck to show up the next day.”
Chief medical officer Steven Kitchen adds:
“We know we are not yet at the peak of this health emergency. More of the patients we are currently caring for will end up with positive COVID-19 tests, and more people in the community will contract the virus. We remain at a critical point, and we need the public to follow the guidance of the experts and do all they can to try to minimize the spread of the virus.”
City of Atlanta closing gyms, bars and limiting restaurants to takeout and delivery
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms issued a series of executive orders today aiming to limit the spread of coronavirus.
Effective midnight tonight, bars, gyms, bowling alleys and movie theaters are some of the things that will close.
Restaurants will be limited to takeout or delivery options, and Bottoms also suspended towing and booting from city rights of way. Of note – not all parking in Atlanta is owned by the city.
Social distancing means people who need people have a tough time staying sober
GPB's Ellen Eldridge has a powerful story about Georgians who are in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction grappling with the need to flatten the curve and minimize in-person meetings.
More stories: The Georgia Aquarium is streaming exhibits, COVID-19 cases in the UGA Athletics Department and the Department of Corrections, Georgia has received life-saving medical supplies from a national stockpile.
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