UPDATE: Georgia tops 1,500 COVID-19 deaths

Published 7:00 pm Wednesday, May 13, 2020

ATLANTA — Georgia has passed 1,500 COVID-19 deaths.

As of 7 p.m. Wednesday, the state reported 35,427 confirmed coronavirus cases and 1,517 related deaths.

The 35,427 cases are up from 35,245 cases and 1,493 deaths at 1 p.m. Wednesday. 

The public health department reports 6,308 people have been hospitalized due to coronavirus and 1,511 people have been admitted into intensive care units; however, the website notes the number could be underreported. 

All 159 counties have reported cases.

More than 3,500 health care workers have tested positive for coronavirus — 82% of whom are female and 18% of whom are male.

Now, after state officials urged Georgians to get tested, nearly 274,000 people have been tested.

The Georgia State Public Health Lab has reported 2,526 positive results and commercial labs have reported 32,872 positive results.

The department reported black Georgians account for 12,523 cases while white Georgians account for 10,818 cases. The race of 4,630 cases is still unknown and more than 4,800 cases are designated as missing.

As of Tuesday, Kemp said during a coronavirus update, nursing home residents and staff make up 18.5% of the state’s total positive cases and residents make up 49% of the state’s total deaths.

Georgia has deployed Nation Guardsmen to 142 nursing homes across the state to conduct aggressive infection control measures. According to Kemp, 46% of all residents and 24% of staff at such facilities have been tested.

The state estimates there are still 46,000 residents and staff who need to be tested.