Here is the latest coronavirus blog for April 16.
Below is an archive
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The Georgia Department of Health announced new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday. As of Noon, there are 15,260 confirmed cases of the virus and 576 deaths reported. Scroll to read more.
At 11Alive News, our coverage of the coronavirus is rooted in Facts, not Fear. Visit the 11Alive coronavirus page for comprehensive coverage, find out what you need to know about Georgia specifically, learn more about the symptoms, and keep tabs on the cases around the world here. Have a question? Text it to us at 404-885-7600.
State and federal officials with the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are continually monitoring the spread of the virus. They are also working hand-in-hand with the World Health Organization to track the spread around the world and to stop it.
We will continue to track the most important coronavirus elements relating to Georgia on this page. Refresh often for new information.
Key Facts:
- 576 deaths from the novel coronavirus in Georgia
- 15,260 confirmed cases across the state
- Statewide shelter-in-place order in effect until April 30
- All public schools in Georgia closed through the end of the school year
- Public Health Emergency now in effect until May 13
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
Emory Healthcare opens drive-through COVID-19 testing site
Emory Healthcare has opened a drive-through testing site for people suspected of having COVID-19.
The new testing site is set up in an Emory parking deck located at 6 Executive Park Drive NE, Atlanta, Ga. The drive-through testing visits are by appointment only.
Emory said some of its physicians developed a COVID-19 screening tool that is available online to check symptoms before seeking the swab test offered at the drive-through site.
For those who are symptomatic, individuals can call Emory’s COVID line at 404-712-6843 (Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) for evaluation and to determine if you meet the criteria for testing.
If indicated, the nursing team will schedule a drive-through testing appointment.
Rockdale County sheriff's food pantry is back, fresh produce distributed
Sheriff Eric Levett of Rockdale County is helping the community.
In a Facebook post, the sheriff's office said Levett’s food pantry is back. People could stop by the front of the administration building to get fresh produce on Wednesday.
Rockdale County Sheriff gives out fresh produce
Cases in Georgia now at 15,260 with 576 deaths
The Georgia Department of Health announced new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday. As of 7 p.m., there are 15,260 confirmed cases of the virus and 576 deaths reported. This is up from the 14,987 confirmed cases and 552 deaths that they announced earlier in the day.
Of the 15,260 confirmed cases, 1902 are in Fulton, 1320 are in Dougherty, 1225 are in DeKalb, 950 are in Cobb and 885 are in Gwinnett. In all, there are cases reported in 157 counties (136 cases are listed as unknown counties). They also listed 677 cases as "non-Georgia residents." For a breakdown by county, view the 11Alive interactive map.
They said 3006 patients are hospitalized with COVID-19.
Of the confirmed cases, 1 percent are between the ages of 0-17, while 60 percent are 18-59 years old, 35 percent are over 60 and 4 percent are unknown. 54 percent are female, and 44 percent are male.
In total, 60,003 tests were conducted at commercial labs, reporting 14,460 positive cases. At the Department of Public Health Laboratory, 4,096 tests were conducted with 800 positive results.
COUNTY - CASES - DEATHS
Fulton 1902 63
Dougherty 1320 84
Dekalb 1225 16
Cobb 950 44
Gwinnett 885 32
Clayton 462 13
Hall 402 5
Henry 328 5
Sumter 276 13
Lee 264 15
Carroll 242 7
Bartow 237 20
Cherokee 232 8
Douglas 201 6
Muscogee 182 4
Mitchell 176 20
Richmond 169 8
Chatham 160 5
Forsyth 157 5
Early 145 6
Houston 142 9
Upson 139 5
Coweta 138 3
Terrell 137 11
Randolph 131 7
Fayette 122 5
Floyd 120 6
Paulding 118 5
Newton 113 3
Worth 111 4
Thomas 109 9
Bibb 108 1
Rockdale 107 6
Clarke 102 12
Spalding 96 5
Baldwin 93 2
Crisp 93 1
Colquitt 90 5
Columbia 79 0
Tift 76 2
Lowndes 75 3
Troup 72 4
Barrow 68 3
Ware 67 5
Coffee 65 3
Calhoun 59 2
Dooly 55 4
Walton 54 3
Decatur 51 0
Gordon 48 5
Pierce 48 2
Turner 46 1
Habersham 44 2
Oconee 44 0
Glynn 43 0
Dawson 37 2
Macon 37 0
Butts 36 0
Jackson 35 1
Laurens 35 1
Greene 34 1
Whitfield 32 3
Mcduffie 31 2
Oglethorpe 31 1
Bryan 30 2
Wilcox 30 0
Burke 28 2
Meriwether 28 0
Harris 27 1
Polk 27 0
Liberty 26 0
Peach 25 2
Pike 25 1
Camden 24 0
Effingham 24 1
Stephens 24 0
Grady 23 1
Bulloch 22 1
Washington 22 0
Brooks 21 2
Johnson 21 1
Lamar 21 0
Haralson 19 1
Miller 19 0
Seminole 19 1
Dodge 18 0
Baker 17 2
Catoosa 17 0
Clay 17 2
Marion 17 0
Morgan 17 0
Murray 17 0
Toombs 17 1
Jones 15 0
Appling 14 0
Bacon 14 0
Brantley 14 1
Fannin 14 0
Monroe 14 1
Pickens 14 2
White 14 0
Wilkinson 14 1
Madison 13 1
Schley 13 1
Talbot 13 1
Walker 13 0
Irwin 12 0
Jenkins 12 1
Putnam 12 0
Lumpkin 11 0
Pulaski 11 1
Telfair 11 0
Ben Hill 10 0
Crawford 10 0
Jasper 10 0
Banks 9 0
Chattooga 9 1
Cook 9 0
Emanuel 9 0
Jefferson 9 1
Lincoln 9 0
Screven 9 1
Stewart 9 0
Taylor 9 2
Wilkes 9 0
Berrien 8 0
Towns 8 0
Union 8 1
Warren 8 0
Clinch 7 0
Elbert 7 0
Franklin 7 0
Gilmer 7 0
Rabun 7 0
Dade 6 1
Hancock 6 0
Wayne 6 0
Charlton 5 0
Chattahoochee 5 0
Hart 5 0
Heard 5 1
Lanier 5 1
Tattnall 5 0
Candler 4 0
Bleckley 3 0
Echols 3 0
Mcintosh 3 0
Quitman 3 1
Twiggs 3 0
Webster 3 0
Wheeler 3 0
Atkinson 2 0
Evans 2 0
Jeff Davis 2 0
Long 2 0
Montgomery 2 0
Treutlen 1 0
Unknown 136 0
Non-Georgia Resident 677 7
Cobb Schools Foundation buys 600 digital devices for students in need
The Cobb Schools Foundation announced that they have raised $185,000 to buy 600 digital devices for students in need. They hope to raise $65,000 more.
“We are grateful to all those who have supported our campaign and understand that students who experience a lapse in learning may experience academic challenges in the near future. We want all students to continue to have success and have the tools and resources needed to achieve their goals," said Felicia Wagner, Executive Director of the Cobb Schools Foundation.
To support the campaign visit the Cobb Schools Family Stabilization Donation page.
Anyone with symptoms can get tested, state says
The Georgia Department of Public Health is increasing the number of testing sites for COVID-19, and is revising the current testing criteria to accommodate more testing of Georgia residents.
Effective immediately, they said "all symptomatic individuals" will be eligible for testing. Health care workers, first responders, law enforcement and long-term care facility residents and staff will still be prioritized for testing regardless of whether they are or are not symptomatic, they added.
Referrals are still required, however, there are now two ways to be referred to a DPH specimen collection site: from your local health department or from your health care provider.
They said you should not show up unannounced or without an appointment and that you'll only be tested if you've been evaluated by public health or a health care provider.
More information is available on the DPH website.
Former President Jimmy Carter weighs in on Trump's WHO decision
Former President Jimmy Carter issued a statement on Wednesday in reference to current President Donald Trump's decision to halt funding to the World Health Organization pending a review of its warnings about the coronavirus and China.
President Trump made the announcement during his evening task force briefing yesterday and claimed the World Health Organization failed to carry out its 'basic duty' with the coronavirus pandemic and must be held accountable.
Trump says the outbreak could have been contained at its source and spared lives had the U.N. health agency done a better job investigating reports coming out of China.
President Carter said his is "distressed" by the decision to withhold "critically needed" U.S. funding for the organization during an international pandemic.
"WHO is the only international organization capable of leading the effort to control this virus," Carter said in the statement.
Confirmed cases in Georgia stand at 14,987 with 552 deaths
The Georgia Department of Health announced new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday. As of Noon, there are 14,987 confirmed cases of the virus and 552 deaths reported. This is up from the 14,578 confirmed cases and 524 deaths that they announced on Tuesday evening.
Of the 14,987 confirmed cases, 1844 are in Fulton, 1308 are in Dougherty, 1191 are in DeKalb, 924 are in Cobb and 852 are in Gwinnett. In all, there are cases reported in 157 counties (263 cases are listed as unknown counties). They also listed 683 cases as "non-Georgia residents." For a breakdown by county, view the 11Alive interactive map.
They said 2922 patients are hospitalized with COVID-19.
Of the confirmed cases, 1 percent are between the ages of 0-17, while 61 percent are 18-59 years old, 35 percent are over 60 and 3 percent are unknown. 54 percent are female, and 44 percent are male.
In total, 59,994 tests were conducted at commercial labs, reporting 14,192 positive cases. At the Department of Public Health Laboratory, 4,096 tests were conducted with 795 positive results.
COUNTY - CASES - DEATHS
Fulton 1844 62
Dougherty 1308 83
Dekalb 1191 15
Cobb 924 43
Gwinnett 852 29
Clayton 456 13
Hall 374 1
Henry 321 5
Sumter 273 12
Lee 264 15
Carroll 237 6
Bartow 235 17
Cherokee 225 8
Douglas 197 6
Muscogee 177 4
Mitchell 172 20
Richmond 168 8
Chatham 160 5
Forsyth 153 5
Houston 142 9
Early 141 6
Coweta 136 3
Terrell 135 11
Upson 135 5
Randolph 131 7
Fayette 120 5
Floyd 120 6
Paulding 117 5
Rockdale 107 6
Newton 104 3
Worth 104 4
Clarke 98 12
Bibb 95 1
Thomas 92 9
Baldwin 90 2
Spalding 90 4
Colquitt 89 5
Crisp 88 1
Columbia 78 0
Lowndes 75 3
Tift 74 1
Troup 68 4
Barrow 66 3
Ware 66 4
Coffee 65 3
Calhoun 58 2
Dooly 52 3
Walton 52 3
Decatur 47 0
Macon 47 0
Pierce 47 2
Gordon 46 3
Oconee 43 0
Glynn 41 0
Turner 41 1
Dawson 37 2
Butts 36 0
Laurens 35 1
Greene 34 1
Jackson 33 1
Whitfield 31 3
Bryan 30 2
Mcduffie 30 2
Habersham 29 1
Wilcox 29 0
Burke 28 2
Polk 27 0
Liberty 26 0
Meriwether 26 0
Effingham 25 1
Harris 25 1
Pike 25 1
Peach 24 2
Stephens 24 0
Camden 23 0
Bulloch 22 1
Washington 22 0
Brooks 21 1
Grady 21 1
Johnson 21 1
Lamar 21 0
Haralson 19 1
Oglethorpe 19 1
Catoosa 17 0
Dodge 17 0
Marion 17 0
Murray 17 0
Baker 16 2
Clay 16 2
Seminole 16 1
Toombs 16 1
Jones 15 0
Miller 15 0
Morgan 15 0
Appling 14 0
Bacon 14 0
Fannin 14 0
Pickens 14 2
White 14 0
Wilkinson 14 1
Brantley 13 1
Madison 13 1
Monroe 13 1
Schley 13 1
Walker 13 0
Irwin 12 0
Jenkins 12 1
Putnam 12 0
Talbot 12 1
Lumpkin 11 0
Pulaski 11 1
Telfair 11 0
Ben Hill 10 0
Crawford 10 0
Jasper 10 0
Emanuel 9 0
Lincoln 9 0
Screven 9 1
Stewart 9 0
Taylor 9 2
Banks 8 0
Berrien 8 0
Chattooga 8 1
Cook 8 0
Towns 8 0
Union 8 1
Warren 8 0
Wilkes 8 0
Clinch 7 0
Elbert 7 0
Franklin 7 0
Gilmer 7 0
Jefferson 7 1
Rabun 7 0
Wayne 6 0
Chattahoochee 5 0
Hancock 5 0
Hart 5 0
Heard 5 1
Lanier 5 1
Tattnall 5 0
Candler 4 0
Charlton 4 0
Bleckley 3 0
Dade 3 1
Echols 3 0
Mcintosh 3 0
Quitman 3 1
Twiggs 3 0
Webster 3 0
Wheeler 3 0
Atkinson 2 0
Evans 2 0
Jeff Davis 2 0
Long 2 0
Montgomery 2 0
Treutlen 1 0
Unknown 263 0
Non-Georgia Resident 683 7
Publix, Sam's Club offer special hours for healthcare workers and first responders
Publix and Sam's Club announced today special hours dedicated to the heroes working on the front lines of COVID-19.
Sam's Club is offering healthcare workers and first responders the opportunity to shop every Sunday from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Publix says those front line workers are welcome to shop Thursday from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and Friday from 7 a.m to 8 a.m.
Goodwill to stop accepting donations
After Saturday, April 18, Goodwill of North Georgia will be temporarily stop accepting donations at any of its locations. People making donations this week are asked to make them during the adjusted business hours, through this Saturday from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm.
They said this is due to the overwhelming amount of donations -- and not being able to turn around and sell them.
77 percent of resident at senior living community test positive, health officials say
Health officials said Arbor Terrace at Cascade has a total of 62 residents and 48 of them have tested positive for COVID-19. One resident is in the hospital.
They also report that 15 residents have died.
Although health officials' numbers reflect 48 resident cases, a spokesperson for Arbor Terrace at Cascade told 11Alive that as of Tuesday, they had 52 resident cases.
FULL STORY: Health officials: At least 77 percent of residents at senior living community test positive for COVID-19
Food bank to open this Friday Atlanta Motor Speedway
Hampton residents and families will be able to receive 30 to 40 pounds of free food at a mobile market being set up at Atlanta Motor Speedway the next two Fridays.
The speedway, which is in Hampton, close to 30 miles south of Atlanta, said in a release that the market will open at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 17, and again the next week on April 24. It is being organized by AMS, Hampton Elementary and the Atlanta Community Food Bank.
Things to know this morning
- More than 50 resident cases of COVID-19 at senior living community
- 911 call centers to get list of positive COVID-19 cases
- Hartsfield-Jackson lands largest CARES Act funding among U.S. airports
- TSA officer who worked at Atlanta's airport dies of COVID-19
- DeKalb Schools closing early, announces new graduation dates
- Georgia announces increased staffing in healthcare facilities for COVID-19
- Expanded access for Cobb drive-thru testing
MORE CORONAVIRUS HEADLINES: