UPDATE: Georgia reports 15,454 coronavirus cases, 584 deaths

Published 11:45 am Thursday, April 16, 2020

ATLANTA — Georgia reported 15,454 cases of COVID-19 and 584 related deaths as of noon Thursday.

According to the Department of Public Health’s coronavirus daily status report, the 15,454 cases are up from 15,260 cases and 576 deaths reported 7 p.m. Wednesday.

The department reports 3,040 people have been hospitalized due to coronavirus; however, the governor’s office staff has said the number is likely behind actual hospitalizations.

Only two Georgia counties have not reported any cases.

Nearly 68,000 Georgians have been tested for coronavirus.

The Georgia State Public Health Lab has conducted 4,358 tests, with 823 positive results. Commercial labs have conducted 63,527 tests with 14,631 positive results.

Despite early warnings that individuals older than 60 are most at risk, 60% of Georgia’s cases are people ages 18 to 59.

As of April 9, the department added a more detailed racial and ethnic breakdown of cases. Per the department, black Georgians account for 3,836 cases while white Georgians account for 2,689 cases. More than 8,100 cases are still deemed unknown for both race and ethnicity. 

Dr. Kathleen Toomey, commissioner of the Department of Public Health, noted during an April 8 briefing that the department still has insufficient race and ethnic data to determine if one group is being affected more than others.

The Department of Public Health’s daily status report is updated twice a day — once at noon and once at 7 p.m.