Every major metropolitan city in Georgia except Macon has restricted dining and public gathering to curb the spread of coronavirus, 42% of cases are in Georgians younger than 60 and funeral homes are making difficult changes to keep people safe.

The Georgia Department of Public Health is releasing COVID-19 updates twice a day as more test results start rolling in.

As of 7 p.m. Sunday, March 22, there are 620 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in more than a third of Georgia’s 159 counties with 25 reported deaths. Just over 4,000 tests have been performed by state and commercial labs.

Here is the latest coronavirus news from Georgia for Sunday, March 22, 2020.

Cities are imposing limitations to curb the spread of coronavirus

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has issued an executive order directing Atlanta police officers not to enforce laws prohibiting selling alcohol to-go from bars and restaurants.

Restaurants are also limited to takeout or delivery options, as gyms, movie theaters, bars and other public gathering places are closed.

“The fate of cities across the globe will be upon [us] soon if we do not follow recommendations on ways to slow the spread of the coronavirus,” she said in a tweet.

Columbus Mayor Skip Henderson issued a declaration of local emergency Friday, limiting gatherings of more than 10 people, closing restaurants except for takeout service and other public gatherings, through April 3.

Augusta mayor Hardie Davis ordered similar restrictions until April 4, writing "it has been evidenced that people in Augusta-Richmond County continue to congregate in large numbers" and the closures would ensure the health and welfare of the community.

In Savannah, Mayor Van Johnson signed a declaration closing all bars and nightclubs not serving food, effective 8 a.m. Saturday. The action by the mayor also closes other businesses, including gyms, entertainment venues and other gathering places, plus tours.

"When we close businesses, we're also closing livelihoods," Johnson acknowledged, but stressed the importance of avoiding gatherings and close contact.

As the first confirmed cases crop up in and around Macon-Bibb County, officials there have not made any moves to officially limit public gatherings.

First adolescent hospitalized with COVID-19

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting one of the first known cases involving an adolescent. A 12-year-old girl is currently fighting for her life at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite. The disease COVID-19 is somewhat rare in children, with just 1% of cases in Georgia involving the 0-17 age group according to the most recent figures from the Georgia Department of Public Health.

Coronavirus task force member has coronavirus, four Senators with confirmed cases

State Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick (R-Marietta) announced on Facebook Friday that she had tested positive for COVID-19. The physician said she self-quarantined immediately after developing a fever last weekend, was tested on Sunday and received results Friday.

She is the fourth state senator to test positive after Alpharetta Republican Brandon Beach sent the entire legislature into self-quarantine earlier this week. Beach was at the Capitol as late as Monday with symptoms of the virus, even as he was awaiting results for his COVID-19 test.

Sen. Bruce Thompson (R-White) posted on Facebook Sunday he tested positive after being hospitalized most of last week.

Sen. Nikema Williams (D-Atlanta), chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia, detailed her testing ordeal on Facebook, writing Sunday she got her positive diagnosis after waiting nearly five days for results.

"The positive #COVID19 test result was also a reminder that it’s not just 60+ year olds or people already sick that are testing positive," she wrote. "YOU can get this too. Many of you reading this already have the Coronavirus and are showing no symptoms."

 

Gov. Brian Kemp named several committees for his coronavirus task force Friday, including Kirkpatrick as a member of the primary care provider committee.

Kemp: no plans for lockdown, for now

 

There are no plans currently to ban public events, institute a mandatory quarantine or shut down businesses in Georgia as both confirmed cases and testing capacity for COVID-19 continues to grow, Gov. Brian Kemp announced Thursday.

However, the governor outlined a new reality for many Georgians in his digital briefing.

“As you all know, life has drastically changed over the past few weeks here in our state, across our country, and certainly across the world,” he said. “Our Georgia children are now at home, many Georgians are working remotely, our public gatherings are few and far between, and that’s for a very good reason.”

Funeral homes make difficult decisions to minimize spread

Funeral homes are some of the latest businesses to change their practices to incorporate “social distancing” to keep people from spreading coronavirus.

In the Valdosta Daily Times, Casey Music of Music Funeral Home said making changes to the business has been “the hardest decision” he's ever made.

“Since 1955, our family has served families in any capacity that they've wanted,” Music said. “Now, to have to put this in place, was a very tough decision.”

Some of those changes? Limiting in-person visits to necessary funeral business or to handle financial and insurance matters; conducting only graveside, memorial services in open, outdoor areas; and the suspension of formal public visitations.

In Macon, Mayor Robert Reichert issued an executive order preventing funeral directors from conducting indoor services unless there are fewer than 10 people, people must take their own rides to a grave site, outdoor services must have attendees stand at least six feet apart and those who are sick or had close contact with someone who is sick should stay home.

An outbreak of COVID-19 in Albany is believed to be linked to several funerals in the area as well.

First COVID-19 cases in Georgia prison

The Georgia Department of Corrections announced late Friday night that three inmates at Lee State Prison in Leesburg have tested positive for COVID-19. One has been hospitalized since March 15, the others since March 16.

According to a press release, no staff at the prison have exhibited symptoms of the illness, but earlier this week GDC said a staff member at one of the 34 state prisons has coronavirus.

At that time, the ACLU of Georgia called for low-level offenders or those in custody who could not afford to pay cash bail to be released.

RELATED: Fulton County Chief Jailer Says Crime Isn't Down, But Inmates Are Keeping COVID-19 Away

Atlanta Police Officer Has COVID-19

An Atlanta Police officer has tested positive for COVID-19, according to a statement released by APD March 21, marking the department’s first confirmed case.
 
The officer works in the department’s headquarters, which has been undergoing frequent cleanings by a decontamination company.
 

Epidemiologists deployed to help curb Albany outbreak

The Georgia Department of Public Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are sending a team of epidemiologists to investigate the rapidly rising number of COVID-19 cases in Dougherty County.

There are at least 48 confirmed cases and seven deaths, and hospital officials at Phoebe Putney say hundreds more are at home self-isolating until testing results come back.

In a noon Sunday update, the hospital system said there are 103 total positive results, 694 patients awaiting test results either at home or in a hospital and gave a somber look at the state of things.

"The fact that we are now reserving all three of our main hospital’s ICUs for COVID-19 patients shows the seriousness of the situation in our community,” chief medical officer Steven Kitchen said.

The public health team’s initial focus will be on the hospital group as well as long-term care facilities.

“This is a historic public health threat and we must work together with our federal, state and local partners to contain this pandemic,” DPH commissioner Kathleen Toomey said. “Individuals, too, must take responsibility for themselves and their families to ensure they are taking all the recommended COVID-19 prevention measures, including avoiding large groups and gatherings.”

Gov. Brian Kemp, Congressman Sanford Bishop and members of the Dougherty County delegation released a statement imploring residents to stay home, limit social gatherings and follow guidelines posted by health officials.

Death toll at 25

Twenty-five people have died from COVID-19 so far, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health.

More stories: What you need to know about coronavirus symptoms; Coronavirus: Fact or Fiction; Theater owner says it “breaks my whole heart” to cancel its production; Coronavirus poses added challenges to homeless Georgians.

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