COVID-19 has now killed more than 5,000 Georgians since the state health department reported its first death on March 5.

The pandemic is still raging, Dr, Carlos del Rio said, and Georgia must do better.

Gov. Brian Kemp lashed out at members of the news media over coronavirus reporting during a fiery news conference on Wednesday, accusing the Atlanta Journal-Constitution of playing "pandemic politics" and saying, "You're not being truthful with people."

The state reported 216 cases per 100,000 people in the week ending Friday, a rate that is about double the national average, the White House report said.

As of Saturday, 157 of 159 counties in Georgia are eligible to enact public mask ordinances, according to Department of Public Health data.

Friday on Political Rewind, a busy week of national and state politics comes to a close.

The Democratic Party holds its national convention next week. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms scored a prime-time spot Thursday night, just hours before Democratic nominee Joe Biden is scheduled to give his acceptance speech.

And the latest report from the White House’s coronavirus task force warns Georgia is failing to mitigate the spread of the virus. Case numbers remain high across the state this week, with two single-day records of virus deaths reached on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Gov. Brian Kemp on Thursday said he is withdrawing a lawsuit against Atlanta's mask ordinance and "Phase One" rollback after a weekslong feud with Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. 

Thursday on Political Rewind, runoff elections are next week as counties plan for further elections this Fall. And, WNBA players made a strong statement condemning Sen. Kelly Loeffler for her attacks on Black Lives Matter. But is the conflict between Loeffler and the women's basketball league a problem for the appointed Senator’s election plans?

Doctors at one metro Atlanta hospital were greeted with a grim message on a whiteboard: “Morgue full.” Medics in southeast Georgia tended to sick patients in ambulances for 30 minutes to an hour in hopes a hospital bed would become free. An emergency room in middle Georgia overflowed so much stretchers lined the walls.

A second letter begging Gov. Brian Kemp to mandate masks was signed by more than 2,100 health workers across Georgia and delivered Friday.

Georgia continues to record more cases of COVID-19 every day. This troubling data comes as Gov. Brian Kemp must decide whether to extend his emergency orders designed to control the virus. The deadline for his latest directive is set to expire today.

We discussed the latest data and policy with our panel of political insiders.

Friday on Political Rewind, the fall semester approaches as the pandemic still remains a public health crisis. Some parents remain unsure what schooling will look like in the midst of pandemic.

We discussed the latest on Georgia schools and the most recent developments in the dispute between Gov. Brian Kemp and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms over mask mandates.

Thursday on Political Rewind, we remember the life and legacy of civil rights icon C.T. Vivian. DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond said the generation of Vivian and Lewis were an exceptional group of activists and leaders.

And, a feud between Gov. Brian Kemp and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms develops further as the two attempt to reconcile their positions.

Public schools in Gwinnett County will move online this fall. The district's superintendent said most everyone will have the Internet but he "can't guarantee" reliable access for all.

Wednesday on Political Rewind, a look at the politics of the moment with a panel of insiders and experts.

State Sen. Nikema Williams was chosen by top Georgia Democrats to replace the late Rep. John Lewis on the ballot for his congressional seat. And shifting public approval on the coronavirus response from state governors. Until now, governors received high marks from the public, but recent polling shows those numbers are changing.