Hospitalizations and cases of COVID-19 climbing in Georgia

The fig of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 has risen astir 50% successful Georgia successful the past month, and the fig of infections detected continues to accelerate.

More than 1,200 patients were hospitalized statewide Monday with the respiratory illness. That’s good beneath the grounds of astir 6,000 that was reached successful aboriginal September astatine the highest of Georgia’s 4th surge of microorganism cases. But it’s good supra the caller debased of 824 patients recorded connected Nov. 22.

“We are fortunate that our cases are comparatively debased close present successful southbound Georgia, but based connected what is happening each crossed the country, we bash not expect that to past long, Scott Steiner, CEO of Albany-based Phoebe Putney Health System, said successful a Friday statement. “We powerfully promote each eligible individuals to person a COVID vaccine and booster shot, and delight beryllium cautious arsenic you question and stitchery implicit the holidays.”

The state’s seven-day mean of affirmative tests roseate to astir 2,800 a time connected Monday. That fig has astir doubled successful a week and is much than triple the caller debased of aboriginal November.

Among those who person tested affirmative is Atlanta-mayor elite Andre Dickens. He said a accelerated trial Monday shows helium has COVID-19 and helium is isolating, though helium reports feeling good and having mild symptoms. Dickens, who said helium is afloat vaccinated, said he’s awaiting the results of a much close molecular trial and urged anyone with whom he’s been successful interaction precocious to get tested and quarantine.

Intensive attraction portion furniture usage has been fundamentally level successful the scope of 2,400 a time for the past six weeks, a fig that includes each illnesses and not conscionable COVID-19. That’s astir 82% of statewide capacity.

COVID-19 patients who are hospitalized stay overwhelmingly unvaccinated. At the four-hospital Northeast Georgia Health System based successful Gainesville, 83% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients were unvaccinated connected Sunday, arsenic was each azygous COVID-19 diligent successful an intensive attraction unit.

Georgia ranks sixth lowest among the states, with 50.4% of its colonisation vaccinated, according the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Data. Everyone 5 and older is eligible to vaccinated successful Georgia.

CDC officials said Monday that cases of the omicron variant present marque up much than 90% of caller infections successful the Southeast, displacing the once-dominant delta variant.

Much astir the omicron coronavirus variant remains unknown, including whether it causes much oregon little terrible illness. Scientists accidental omicron spreads adjacent easier than different coronavirus strains, including delta, and it is expected to go ascendant successful the U.S. by aboriginal adjacent year. Early studies suggest the vaccinated volition request a booster changeable for the champion accidental astatine preventing an omicron infection. But adjacent without the other dose, experts accidental vaccination inactive should connection beardown extortion against terrible unwellness and death.