ATLANTA (AP) – The number of COVID-19 patients in Georgia hospitals rose to nearly 2,000 on Monday, as the number of confirmed cases statewide approached 100,000 people, including Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. Officials have said many more people who are infected aren’t being tested.
The increase in hospitalization continued even though the number of new test results predictably slackened over the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Local and state officials say they expect a crush of new people getting tested this week, though.
Although the number of people sick enough with coronavirus to require hospitalization has been in record territory for nearly a week, there hasn’t been a corresponding wave of new deaths so far. The number of fatalities from the respiratory illness rose to at least 2,878 Monday in Georgia, but the typical number of new deaths reported in the state fell throughout the last half of June.
Georgia’s hospitals have shown signs of strain, though. On Monday, 78% of critical care beds statewide were in use, matching the largest share filled with patients since officials began releasing statistics in mid-April. However, not all of those beds are filled with COVID-19 patients.
Bottoms, who has at times clashed with Republican Gov. Brian Kemp while seeking a more restrictive approach to the pandemic, announced her confirmed infection on Twitter on Monday. Her national profile has risen, with former Vice President Joe Biden looking at her as a possible vice presidential running mate on his Democratic presidential ticket.