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Coronavirus in Georgia | Friday, May 1

The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state continues to climb.

ATLANTA — This is an archive of what took place on Friday, May 1, 2020.  

For news and updates of what is happening on Saturday, May 2, please visit our daily blog. 

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As of 7 p.m. on Friday, there are now 27,492 cases of the virus across Georgia, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health. There are 1,165 deaths reported. Scroll to read more. 

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.

Key Facts: 

  • 1,165 deaths from the novel coronavirus in Georgia on Friday. This is an increase of 25 since the update at noon. There were 942 deaths reported at noon on Monday. 
  • 27,492 confirmed cases across the state by 7 p.m. Friday, an increase of 469 cases from the count since noon.
  • Statewide shelter-in-place order expired at midnight April 30; However, the order for the elderly and medically-fragile remains in effect until June 12.
  • All public schools in Georgia closed through the end of the school year
  • Public Health Emergency remains in effect until June 12

Friday, May 1, 2020

Majority of COVID-19 deaths still occur among elderly, people with underlying conditions

At least twice per day, the Georgia Department of Public Health updates its report published online with the latest numbers for confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths. 

We analyzed the latest numbers from GADPH and found the vast majority of fatal COVID-19 cases involve older Georgians. 

The data showed, as of May 1 at 10:25 a.m., the average age of Georgians who died from COVID-19 is 73 years old.

75 percent of fatal cases involve someone 65 years or older. 

The youngest death was a 22-year-old woman with an underlying condition.

The oldest person to die from COVID-19 in Georgia was a 106-year-old Mitchell County resident. The state's reporting shows it is unknown if he had any other conditions. 

11Alive has reported previously on the number of COVID-19 cases in Georgia's long-term care facilities and senior homes.

Read more on the analysis here.

27,492 confirmed cases and 1,165 deaths reported statewide  

According to the 7 p.m. release from the Georgia Department of Public Health, there are now 27,492 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across the state. That's an increase of 469 cases from the noon count. 

In addition, there are 1,165 deaths reported, an increase of 25 since the update at noon. 

According to the data, there are just over 5,300 people hospitalized with the virus, with more than 1,200 of them in ICU.

Fulton (2889), DeKalb (2071), Gwinnett (1844) and Cobb (1676) counties continue to lead the way in the number of total infections in the metro area, however smaller counties like Dougerty (1530) and Hall (1481) are high on the list, too, because of the total number of cases per 100,000 people.

For a breakdown of data by county, view the 11Alive interactive map.

Here is the county-by-county breakdown for the state:

COUNTY - CASES - DEATHS

Fulton    2889    122

DeKalb    2071    49

Gwinnett    1844    58

Cobb    1676    94

Dougherty    1530    123

Hall    1481    22

Clayton    725    33

Henry    492    13

Cherokee    474    13

Richmond    412    15

Sumter    382    28

Carroll    375    14

Douglas    329    11

Habersham    326    8

Bartow    323    31

Lee    322    20

Mitchell    318    31

Muscogee    314    7

Bibb    312    10

Forsyth    308    10

Houston    234    14

Chatham    230    9

Baldwin    226    8

Upson    224    18

Early    214    20

Spalding    214    10

Coweta    210    4

Newton    200    7

Rockdale    191    6

Paulding    190    8

Thomas    190    19

Colquitt    187    9

Terrell    184    19

Fayette    178    10

Crisp    167    3

Columbia    162    4

Randolph    161    19

Worth    159    11

Lowndes    156    4

Clarke    155    13

Butts    153    16

Troup    150    4

Floyd    145    11

Barrow    141    4

Coffee    141    7

Dooly    129    9

Walton    129    4

Ware    128    11

Tift    122    5

Gordon    113    12

Whitfield    111    4

Calhoun    103    4

Jackson    97    2

Wilcox    90    9

Decatur    87    1

Burke    86    3

Macon    81    3

Stephens    81    1

Appling    72    6

Gilmer    69    0

Turner    68    8

Oconee    66    0

Grady    64    4

White    63    0

Laurens    62    1

Dawson    61    1

Harris    61    2

Walker    60    0

Brooks    59    6

Polk    59    0

Glynn    58    1

Pierce    55    3

Bryan    54    3

Greene    54    2

Meriwether    54    0

Peach    52    2

Hancock    51    2

Johnson    51    2

Catoosa    49    0

Oglethorpe    49    3

Lumpkin    46    2

McDuffie    45    4

Washington    43    1

Marion    42    1

Putnam    42    5

Bulloch    40    2

Pike    40    2

Lamar    39    1

Liberty    37    0

Effingham    36    1

Wilkinson    35    2

Camden    33    1

Miller    33    0

Union    33    1

Murray    32    1

Pulaski    31    1

Toombs    31    3

Fannin    30    1

Haralson    29    1

Jones    29    0

Seminole    29    2

Dodge    28    1

Telfair    28    0

Morgan    27    0

Ben Hill    26    0

Talbot    26    1

Bacon    25    1

Banks    25    0

Cook    25    1

Pickens    25    2

Wilkes    25    0

Elbert    24    0

Madison    24    1

Monroe    24    3

Stewart    24    0

Baker    23    2

Brantley    23    2

Clay    23    3

Jasper    22    0

Towns    22    1

Emanuel    21    0

Jeff Davis    20    1

Bleckley    19    0

Franklin    19    1

Berrien    17    0

Crawford    17    0

Taylor    17    2

Chattooga    16    2

Dade    16    1

Jenkins    16    1

Schley    16    1

Irwin    15    1

Screven    15    1

Jefferson    14    1

Rabun    14    0

Wayne    13    0

Chattahoochee    12    0

Lincoln    12    0

Warren    12    0

Charlton    11    0

Hart    11    0

Heard    11    1

Webster    10    2

Atkinson    9    1

Lanier    9    1

Tattnall    9    0

Clinch    8    0

Twiggs    8    0

Candler    7    0

McIntosh    6    0

Echols    5    0

Evans    5    0

Long    5    0

Quitman    5    1

Wheeler    5    0

Montgomery    3    0

Treutlen    3    0

Taliaferro    0    0

Unknown    648    0

Non-Georgia Resident    1076    14

Spiraling economy forces big state budget cuts.

Georgia’s state budget is going to shrink substantially in the coming year because of the COVID 19 pandemic. State departments have been asked to cut budgets by 14 percent.

Because Georgia’s economy has all but shut down, the state’s intake of sales tax and other tax revenue has plummeted. Unlike the federal government – the state is constitutionally required to balance its budget.  And that could include furloughing or laying off school teachers statewide.

Read the full story here.

Free Covid-19 testing offered at Decatur's House of Hope, Monday

The Governor's office has announced a free testing at a pop-up site at the House of Hope in Decatur this Monday, May 4.

WHAT: Free COVID-19 testing at a pop-up drive-thru site

WHERE: House of Hope Atlanta, 4650 Flat Shoals Parkway, Decatur, GA 30034

This is near the Kroger Shopping Center. Pastor and Dr. E. Dewey Smith is pleased to host in service to the surrounding community as well as for the church’s members.

WHEN: Monday, May 4, 2020 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Here’s What You Need to Know

Testing is free. Insurance is not required.

Anyone above the age of 18 can be screened for testing, including those who are asymptomatic but suspect they have come in contact with the virus. Those under 18 must be accompanied by a parent.

Testing is administered by healthcare professionals. 

You must pre-register by calling (404) 294-3700, then select Option 1, to schedule an appointment. Residents must be scheduled in order to enter the testing site location. Participants are emailed and sent a text of their scheduled testing time based on availability and site capacity.

Area residents will be guided through the House of Hope parking lot and remain in the comfort of their cars for the test. For those who arrive without a vehicle, a walk-up testing booth will be available with on-site screening.

Cobb Schools to continue feeding students in need through summer

Cobb Schools said on Monday that, working together with MUST Ministries, they will continue to provide meals for students in need through the summer months.

Since beginning the food distribution in March, about 217,580 meals have been distributed to students in need in Cobb County.

The food has been provided on a once-weekly schedule, on Mondays, allowing Cobb Schools and MUST Ministries to continue to provide meals without interruption, including during Spring Break.

The school system anticipates continuing to provide food weekly on Mondays from May 25 through June 26 from 11 am to 1 pm at the same locations they have been serving:

  • Acworth Elementary School
  • Bryant Elementary School
  • Campbell High School
  • Compton Elementary School
  • East Cobb Middle
  • Garrett Middle School
  • Osborne High School
  • Riverside Intermediate School

 

Georgia officials urge public to wear masks

Gov. Brian Kemp and state Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Kathleen Toomey issued a joint advisory to Georgians on Friday urging them to wear masks.

"Wear a face covering in public settings, practice social distancing, and wash your hands frequently," a release said.

RELATED: Georgia officials urge public to wear masks

The advisory asked the public to wear face coverings in a "community setting" where you might unavoidably come into contact with others.

The advisory directs the public to CDC instructions on how to make a covering at home. 

It adds that the face coverings should not be used on children under 2 or anyone who otherwise struggles with breathing.

#GivingTuesdayNow relief effort organized

The Georgia Center for Nonprofits has announced another day for giving back to the community in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

#GivingTuesdayNow, an extension of yearly #GivingTuesday on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, is slated to take place on May 5. The goal: to drive generosity, engagement, and support for communities and nonprofits around the state of Georgia "right now, in this critical time of need."

“Nonprofits are in crisis at the very moment the world needs them most,” said Karen Beavor, President & CEO of GCN. “GAgives on #GivingTuesdayNow stands ready to unite the state around the values of generosity and community, rallying a wave of support for the work that supports our neighbors.”

People can show their generosity during GAgives on #GivingTuesdayNow by going to GAgives.org, searching for organizations or causes they care about, and donating what they can in a matter of minutes.

Since its founding in 2012, the GAgives movement has collected more tha 284,000 individual gifts and more than $41.5 million in donations for thousands of Georgia’s nonprofits. 

On the last #GivingTuesday, Dec. 3, 2019, the day of giving generated more than $13 million for nonprofits through 133,998 donations, a 184 percent increase over 2018.

27,023 confirmed cases and 1,140 deaths reported statewide

The total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 has continued to increase this week across the state according to the Georgia Department of Public Health. As of noon on Friday, there were 27,023 cases across Georgia with 1,140 deaths reported.

The largest total number of cases are in Fulton County, where 2,845 cases have been reported. Counties with more than 1,000 cases include DeKalb with 2,041; Gwinnett with 1,818; Cobb with 1,660; Dougherty with 1,515; and Hall with 1,364.

The highest death toll remains in Dougherty County, where there are 121 deaths reported. Counties with 30 or more deaths include Fulton with 118, Cobb with 94, Gwinnett with 57, DeKalb with 47, followed by Bartow, Clayton and Mitchell counties. They each are reporting 30 deaths.

For a breakdown of data by county, view the 11Alive interactive map.

County - Cases - Deaths

Fulton    2845    118
DeKalb    2041    47
Gwinnett    1818    57
Cobb    1660    94
Dougherty    1515    121
Hall    1364    21
Non-Georgia Resident    1097    14
Clayton    720    30
Unknown    643    1
Henry    491    12
Cherokee    474    11
Richmond    407    15
Sumter    381    28
Carroll    370    14
Douglas    322    11
Lee    320    20
Bartow    317    30
Habersham    315    8
Mitchell    311    30
Bibb    310    11
Muscogee    306    7
Forsyth    304    9
Chatham    227    9
Houston    223    14
Baldwin    220    8
Upson    217    18
Early    213    20
Spalding    211    9
Coweta    203    4
Newton    198    7
Rockdale    191    6
Paulding    188    8
Colquitt    186    8
Thomas    186    19
Terrell    183    19
Fayette    177    10
Crisp    165    3
Columbia    161    4
Randolph    159    19
Worth    156    11
Lowndes    155    4
Clarke    151    13
Troup    148    4
Butts    146    11
Floyd    144    11
Coffee    140    7
Barrow    134    4
Dooly    129    9
Walton    127    4
Ware    124    11
Tift    120    5
Calhoun    106    4
Whitfield    105    4
Jackson    94    2
Gordon    92    12
Wilcox    90    9
Burke    86    3
Decatur    85    1
Macon    80    3
Stephens    80    1
Appling    70    6
Gilmer    69    0
Turner    68    8
Grady    64    4
Oconee    64    0
Harris    62    2
Laurens    62    1
Dawson    61    1
Walker    61    0
White    61    0
Brooks    59    6
Polk    57    0
Bryan    55    2
Glynn    55    1
Pierce    55    3
Greene    54    2
Meriwether    54    1
Johnson    50    2
Hancock    49    2
Oglethorpe    48    3
Peach    48    2
Catoosa    47    0
Lumpkin    45    2
McDuffie    45    4
Marion    42    1
Putnam    42    5
Washington    42    1
Pike    40    2
Bulloch    39    2
Lamar    39    1
Liberty    37    0
Effingham    35    1
Wilkinson    35    2
Camden    33    1
Miller    33    0
Union    33    1
Murray    31    0
Toombs    31    3
Pulaski    30    1
Fannin    29    1
Jones    29    0
Seminole    29    2
Morgan    28    0
Haralson    27    1
Telfair    27    0
Dodge    26    1
Pickens    26    2
Talbot    26    1
Banks    25    0
Ben Hill    25    0
Wilkes    25    0
Bacon    24    1
Madison    24    1
Stewart    24    0
Baker    23    2
Brantley    23    2
Cook    23    1
Elbert    23    0
Monroe    23    3
Clay    22    3
Jasper    22    0
Emanuel    21    0
Towns    21    1
Franklin    18    1
Berrien    17    0
Bleckley    17    0
Crawford    17    0
Jeff Davis    17    1
Taylor    17    2
Chattooga    16    2
Jenkins    16    1
Schley    16    1
Irwin    15    1
Screven    15    1
Dade    14    1
Jefferson    14    1
Rabun    13    0
Wayne    13    0
Chattahoochee    12    0
Lincoln    12    0
Warren    12    0
Heard    11    1
Hart    10    0
Tattnall    10    0
Webster    10    2
Lanier    9    1
Atkinson    8    1
Charlton    8    0
Clinch    8    0
Twiggs    8    0
Candler    7    0
Echols    5    0
Long    5    0
Wheeler    5    0
Evans    4    0
McIntosh    4    0
Quitman    4    1
Treutlen    3    0
Montgomery    2    0
Taliaferro    0    0


Gwinnett County school employees to begin returning to work on Wednesday, May 6

Gwinnett County School District leaders have created a return-to-work plan for employees to schools and facilities.  

During the system's digital learning days, a limited number of staff members reported to on-site facilities to help support teachers and digital instruction as well to assist with the food program for students and in making plans to close out the school year.

The school system is pushing forward with a return-to-work plan for all staff and teaches over the next three weeks.

Wednesday, May 6 - Director-level staff at the Instructional Support Center and their clerical support staff will report to work at the ISC.

Monday, May 11 - All remaining ISC staff will return to work at the ISC. All school-based employees, except for teachers will report to their local schools. Teachers will continue to lead digital learning from home.

Monday, May 18 - Teachers will report to their schools. During the final three days of digital learning, teachers will wrap up instruction and assist any students who need to make up work. They will verify grades, closeout classrooms and assist in returning items to students.

The school district says they are limiting the number of people in each building at any given point in time. Custodial staff will increase cleaning for all high-touch, high-use surfaces throughout the day.  

Atlanta area Simon Malls not reopening until Monday, May 4

The largest shopping mall operator in the United States, Simon Malls, said early Friday that five of its seven Georgia shopping properties, all in metro Atlanta, would not be reopening until Monday, May 4.

Initially, the mall operator said it would be open on Friday, immediately after the expiration of the governor's shelter-in-place order, along with malls in seven other states.

There was no immediate explanation for the delay.

The only two Georgia Simon Malls opening Friday, May 1, are Calhoun Outlet Marketplace and North Georgia Premium Outlets. The remaining Simon properties in Georgia -- Lenox Square, Phipps Plaza, Mall of Georgia, Sugarloaf Mills and Town Center at Cobb -- will open on Monday, May 4.

RELATED: Atlanta area Simon Malls not reopening until Monday, May 4

AJC Peachtree Road Race moving to Thanksgiving Day

Atlanta will have to wait a little longer for one of the city's most treasured traditions.

In an announcement, the Atlanta Track Club said that the 51st running of the AJC Peachtree Road Race will be moved from its usual July 4th date to later this fall. 

“As Atlanta and the nation continue to take precautions to slow and stop the spread of COVID-19, we understand that Peachtree participants, volunteers, medical staff and the other first responders who keep them safe need more time to prepare for this year’s race,” said Rich Kenah, race director of the Peachtree and Atlanta Track Club’s executive director.

Instead, the race, whose route winds through the heart of the city, will be held on Thursday, Nov. 26. 

RELATED: AJC Peachtree Road Race moving to Thanksgiving Day

Confirmed cases at 26,260 with 1,132 deaths

The Georgia Department of Health announced new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday. As of 7 p.m., there are 26,260 confirmed cases of the virus and 1,132 deaths reported. This is up from the 26,033 confirmed cases and 1,107 deaths that they announced on Monday evening.

Of the 26,260 confirmed cases, 2809 are in Fulton, 2027 are in DeKalb, 1505 are in Dougherty, 1615 are in Cobb and 1786 are in Gwinnett. For a breakdown by county, view the 11Alive interactive map.

They said 5,190 patients are hospitalized with COVID-19.

COUNTY - CASES - DEATHS

Fulton    2809    117
DeKalb    2027    48
Gwinnett    1786    57
Cobb    1615    94
Dougherty    1505    120
Hall    1332    21
Non-Georgia Resident    962    14
Clayton    713    27
Henry    493    12
Cherokee    467    11
Richmond    406    15
Unknown    393    0
Sumter    380    28
Carroll    358    14
Douglas    319    11
Lee    318    20
Bartow    313    30
Mitchell    310    30
Bibb    305    10
Muscogee    303    7
Forsyth    298    9
Habersham    257    8
Chatham    226    9
Houston    223    14
Upson    216    18
Baldwin    215    8
Early    214    20
Spalding    208    9
Newton    196    7
Coweta    195    4
Paulding    186    8
Rockdale    186    6
Thomas    186    19
Colquitt    185    6
Terrell    183    19
Fayette    176    10
Crisp    166    3
Columbia    160    4
Randolph    159    19
Lowndes    155    4
Worth    153    11
Clarke    150    13
Troup    148    4
Floyd    144    11
Butts    141    11
Coffee    138    7
Barrow    133    4
Dooly    129    9
Walton    126    4
Ware    121    11
Tift    117    5
Whitfield    103    4
Calhoun    99    4
Jackson    93    2
Gordon    92    12
Wilcox    89    9
Burke    85    3
Decatur    82    1
Stephens    78    1
Macon    76    3
Appling    70    6
Gilmer    68    0
Turner    68    8
Oconee    64    0
Grady    63    4
Dawson    61    1
Walker    61    0
Harris    60    2
Laurens    60    1
White    59    0
Brooks    58    6
Polk    57    0
Glynn    55    1
Pierce    55    3
Greene    54    2
Meriwether    54    1
Bryan    52    2
Johnson    49    2
Oglethorpe    48    3
Catoosa    47    0
Peach    46    2
Hancock    45    2
McDuffie    45    4
Lumpkin    44    2
Marion    42    1
Washington    42    1
Pike    40    2
Putnam    40    5
Lamar    38    1
Bulloch    37    2
Liberty    37    0
Effingham    35    1
Wilkinson    35    2
Camden    33    1
Miller    33    0
Union    33    1
Murray    31    0
Toombs    31    3
Pulaski    30    1
Fannin    29    1
Seminole    29    2
Haralson    28    1
Jones    28    0
Morgan    28    0
Telfair    27    0
Dodge    26    1
Pickens    26    2
Talbot    26    1
Ben Hill    25    0
Wilkes    25    0
Bacon    24    1
Banks    24    0
Madison    24    1
Stewart    24    0
Baker    23    2
Brantley    23    2
Cook    23    1
Elbert    23    0
Monroe    23    3
Clay    22    3
Emanuel    21    0
Jasper    21    0
Towns    21    1
Franklin    18    1
Berrien    17    0
Jeff Davis    17    1
Taylor    17    2
Bleckley    16    0
Chattooga    16    2
Jenkins    16    1
Schley    16    1
Crawford    15    0
Irwin    15    1
Screven    15    1
Dade    14    1
Jefferson    14    1
Rabun    13    0
Wayne    13    0
Chattahoochee    12    0
Lincoln    12    0
Warren    12    0
Hart    10    0
Heard    10    1
Tattnall    10    0
Webster    10    2
Atkinson    8    1
Charlton    8    0
Clinch    8    0
Lanier    8    1
Twiggs    8    0
Candler    7    0
Echols    5    0
Long    5    0
Evans    4    0
McIntosh    4    0
Quitman    4    1
Wheeler    4    0
Treutlen    3    0
Montgomery    2    0
Taliaferro    0    0

Things to know this morning 

  • Gov. Brian Kemp extends shelter-in-place order for medically fragile and elderly until June 12.
  • Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines to require all passengers to wear masks, starting May 4.
  • Mock funeral procession protests Georgia's reopening.
  • Transit workers in metro Atlanta seek safer conditions
  • Little League World Series canceled for first time in history.
  • Bars, live entertainment venues, public pools to remain closed.
  • Mercedes-Benz Stadium offering free COVID-19 tests


MORE CORONAVIRUS HEADLINES | 

Front-line work during pandemic falls on women, minorities

Start of May brings reopenings from coronavirus around the world

Actor Sean Penn's organization brings free Covid-19 testing to Atlanta

They do recover! After battling COVID-19, survivors are fighting to save others

City, county leaders encourage residents to stay home as state shelter-in-place order expires

Late winter Super Bowl? NFL says it will play full season, but may have tweaks

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