The number of those hospitalized in the state of Georgia have increased by 50% in just one week. | Alberto Giuliani/Wikimedia Commons
The number of those hospitalized in the state of Georgia have increased by 50% in just one week. | Alberto Giuliani/Wikimedia Commons
Georgia is feeling the pandemic heat as data shows hospitals in the Atlanta area are nearing max capacity.
The number of patients hospitalized statewide with the virus has climbed by more than 50% in a week, rising above 1,900 on Dec. 27, Fox 5 Atlanta reported.
"We're seeing an increase spread amongst our healthcare providers now," Dr. Danny Branstetter, director of infection prevention for the 10-hospital Wellstar Health System, told Fox 5 Atlanta. "So that maybe even limit our healthcare personnel available to provide care even further."
The weekly average of Georgia COVID-19 cases jumped to approximately 8,700 a day Dec. 27, Fox 5 Atlanta reported.
"Hospitalizations are not rising as rapidly as previous surges," Branstetter said. "However, hospitalization is a lag from new diagnosis of infection. So we may see hospitalization start to increase in the next week or so, hopefully not to the same exponential rate."
Coronavirus deaths are averaging over 20 per day, with a total of over 31,000 dying from COVID-19 in Georgia, Fox 5 Atlanta reported. As of Dec. 27, 21 emergency rooms in Atlanta were turning down ambulances.
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr and Public Health Commissioner Kathleen Toomey advised others to ensure they are using a proper testing center and to pay attention to whether they are being overcharged, Fox 5 Atlanta reported. Additionally, they warned about potential scammers who may approach individuals in the streets and attempt to charge for an in-person test.
"Misinformation from unapproved COVID tests could result in people not following isolation and quarantine protocols and lead to further transmission of the virus and serious or life-threatening illness," Toomey said in a statement.
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