Washington County’s total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases increased to 45 in the Georgia Department of Public Health’s noon report for Wednesday, May 6.
Neighboring Hancock County saw a significant increase in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, going from 66 cases as of 7 p.m. on Tuesday to 110 confirmed cases in Wednesday’s report.
As previously reported by WACO 100, Augusta University and Georgia’s Department of Public Heath recently partnered to provide a coronavirus drive-thru testing site in Hancock County.
The Department of Public Health notes a confirmed case is defined as a person who has tested positive for 2019 novel coronavirus. Healthcare providers diagnose patients with COVID-19 and they, along with laboratories, report the COVID-19 cases to the Georgia DPH. These numbers are preliminary and may change as more information is gathered on a person under investigation.
While patients testing positive with COVID-19 do recover, this total does not take into account the population that has since recovered from COVID-19. The report reflects the total number of COVID-19 cases the county has seen since testing began.
The total number of COVID-19 tests completed in the state as of the noon report on Wednesday, May 6 was 204,137.
The most recent report at noon on Wednesday showed an overall increase in cases throughout the state, going from 29,839 in Tuesday’s evening report to 30,562 confirmed cases in the state in the Department of Public Health’s midday report on Wednesday.
As of noon on Wednesday, May 6, Georgia had 5,709 hospitalized. The number of ICU admissions totaled 1,325.
Washington County has four COVID-19 related hospitalizations.
The confirmed number of COVID-19 related deaths in the state as reported by DPH in its midday report for Wednesday, May 6 was 1,305.
As previously reported by Waco 100, the Georgia Department of Public Health reported Washington County’s first COVID-19 related death in its 7 p.m. Friday, April 17 report. According to the DPH’s report, the deceased was a 66-year-old male with underlying conditions.
Washington County is part of the North Central Health District. The North Central Health District is a 13-county district in Central Georgia. It includes: Baldwin, Bibb, Crawford, Hancock, Houston, Jasper, Jones, Monroe, Peach, Putnam, Twiggs, Washington and Wilkinson.
The following is the breakdown of where those confirmed cases are located throughout the North Central Heath District and the number of deaths by County:
- Baldwin County: 262 confirmed cases, ten deaths, and 51 hospitalizations
- Bibb County: 363 confirmed cases, thirteen deaths, and 101 hospitalizations
- Crawford County: 19 confirmed cases, no deaths, and four hospitalizations
- Hancock County: 110 confirmed cases, two deaths, and 11 hospitalizations
- Houston County: 271 confirmed cases, 14 deaths, and 80 hospitalizations
- Jasper County: 26 confirmed cases, no deaths, and four hospitalizations
- Jones County: 31 confirmed cases, no deaths, and four hospitalizations
- Monroe County: 31 confirmed cases, four deaths, and seven hospitalizations
- Peach County: 61 confirmed cases, two deaths, and 16 hospitalizations
- Putnam County: 51 confirmed cases, five deaths, and 10 hospitalizations
- Twiggs County: eight confirmed cases, no deaths, and three hospitalizations
- Washington County: 45 confirmed cases, one death, and four hospitalizations
- Wilkinson County: 41 confirmed cases, two deaths, and 14 hospitalizations
COVID-19 is spread by an infected person’s coughs and sneezes or close contact with an infected individual. Symptoms appear within two to 14 days after exposure and can include fever, cough and shortness of breath. The best way to protect against COVID-19 is to practice germ prevention:
- Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water a not available, us an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
- Avoid touching your nose, eyes and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are ill.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough and sneeze with a tissue, then dispose of the tissue. If a tissue is not available, use the inside of your elbow to cover yourself.
- Regularly clean and disinfect high-touch objects and surfaces