Updated Tuesday at 7:34 p.m.
An Atlanta hospital on Tuesday announced the early opening of part of an expansion to provide more intensive care beds during the coronavirus pandemic as the state’s death toll neared 350.
Three floors of the new Marcus Tower at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital will now open on April 13 instead of Aug. 1, Piedmont Healthcare said in a statement. The new space will provide 132 additional beds, including 64 ICU beds, the statement said.
“By opening this part of the tower early, we are increasing capacity at a critical time when our community needs it the most,” CEO Dr. Patrick Battey said in the statement.
News outlets report that state officials are also exploring the possibility of using other locations, including the Georgia World Congress Center — a sprawling convention center in downtown Atlanta — to house patients.
Nearly 1,900 people in the state have been hospitalized and at least 348 have died because of the virus, according to the latest data Tuesday from the Georgia Department of Public Health. The state reported more than 9,100 confirmed cases, though testing has been limited.
The department said in a statement that the increasing numbers “tell us that COVID-19 is widespread throughout Georgia.”
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause severe illness, including pneumonia and death.
Georgia Continues To Adjust To Statewide Order
The expansion effort comes as Georgia adjusts to a statewide stay-at-home order from Republican Gov. Brian Kemp that overrode any local measures stricter than his, such as beach closures, and left open houses of worship as long as congregants stay 6 feet (1.83 meters) apart.
The Georgia State Patrol said its troopers cited a pastor and four others for misdemeanor violations Sunday after worshippers at a Statesboro church were twice found ignoring social distancing requirements.
The State Patrol said troopers showed up at the Church of God the Bibleway in Statesboro after receiving a complaint and found more than 30 people inside the small building. Troopers gave the pastor a warning and urged him to hold future services outside.
Troopers returned Sunday evening to find the pastor holding another indoor service. Pastor Eli Porter was cited on a misdemeanor charge of reckless conduct, as were four other men, the State Patrol report said.
Clayton Cowart, president of the Statesboro church’s parent corporation, said Tuesday that any order requiring congregants to keep distant from each other violates their First Amendment right to freedom of religion.
“We feel our obligations as spiritual leaders are just as important as cashiers working at Walmart,” Cowart said. He said the church plans to move forward with a normal, indoor service this Sunday on Easter.
At least two officials on the Georgia coast say Gov. Brian Kemp has increased the risk of the coronavirus spreading with his latest emergency order because it rolls back local measures put in place to slow the spread of the virus.
Glynn County Commission Chairman Michael Browning, a Republican, sent a letter to Kemp urging him to reverse course and allow cities and counties to impose tougher restrictions. The county had closed the beaches at St. Simons Island and Sea Island last month, only to see them reopened when Kemp’s order took effect Friday.
Browning wrote in his letter Monday that “this is the time to be tightening restrictions that combat the spread of this disease, not loosening them.” On Saturday, Tybee Island Mayor Shirley Sessions publicly blasted Kemp for reopening Georgia beaches.
Kemp has dispatched state troopers and Department of Natural Resources officers to patrol beaches, where people are being allowed to exercise but not to gather in groups or bring beach gear.
Local officials say Kemp’s order also nullified local measures temporarily halting vacation rentals.
Georgia Might Not Have Enough ICU Beds
Computer models show that Georgia may have enough hospital beds for COVID-19 patients, but there’s could be a lack of Intensive Care Unit spots as the state heads toward peak deaths and cases later this month.
The Governor’s office says it is closely watching various models on how the coronavirus is projected to impact Georgia hospitals. One model, by the institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation says the peak will be around April 20 when more than 6,800 people could be in the hospital with COVID-19.
With more than 8,300 hospital beds, Georgia could meet that challenge. But should the projections hold true, the state could be short more than 700 ICU beds and would need more than 1,000 ventilators.
The governor’s office says it’s working with hospitals and private vendors to get as many ICU and ventilators as possible.
Fulton County Is Distributing Relief Funds
Fulton County Chairman Robb Pitts says the county is in the process of distributing more than $3 million in coronavirus relief funding.
The money is earmarked to immediately provide financial, mortgage and food aid to county residents in need. Chairman Pitts says citizens are hurting and need the relief
“The money is to be used in three broad categories. Number one, senior services; number two, assistance to our homeless community; and number three small business loans, including our arts groups,” he said.
Eight nonprofits including Hosea Helps, Midtown Assistance Center and Antioch Urban Ministries received their checks Monday.
Criminal Trials And Jury Duties Still Suspended
Georgia’s criminal trials and jury duties remain suspended during the statewide judicial emergency as a result of the coronavirus.
Chief Justice Harold Melton Monday extended the order until May 13.
Some courts remain open for emergency cases only.
