In a pandemic, a lot can happen in 2 weeks. That’s the case across Georgia and — to a lesser extent — Fayette County.
With the highly contagious delta variant of the original coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2 becoming the dominant strain in the United States, more infected people are showing up at urgent care and testing sites.
In the past 15 days, 100 more cases have been found in Fayette — slightly under 7 persons a day — and 14,688 additional cases across Georgia — right at 1,049 newly infected people each day, according to statistics from the Georgia Department of Public Health.
Even with an uptick in case numbers Fayette still has a 2-week rate of positive Covid tests of 1.3%, still very low. By comparison, neighboring Coweta has a 2-week infection rate of 9.2% and the entire state’s rate has risen from 3.0% to 8.3%.
Since the pandemic start in March 2020, Fayette now has recorded 6,965 cases, resulting in 162 verfied Covid-caused deaths and 16 suspected coronavirus fatalities. Statewide, deaths have risen to 18,675, an increase of 98 fatalities in 2 weeks.
Cumulative hospitalizations in Fayette now total 309 Covid patients, an increase of 28 in 2 weeks. Anecdotally, some Fayette residents who are testing positive for Covid have been fully vacinated.
Fayette now has one of the highest vaccination rates in the state: 52% fully vaccinated and 57% with at least 1 shot.
Gov. Brian Kemp’s final health emergency order has expired, which leaves local jurisdictions legally free to re-impose mask requirements that were not permitted under the governor’s orders. Savannah already has, and others may follow.
