Georgia Logs 4,800 New Virus Cases Friday As Deaths Climb

There were 3,135 currently hospitalized with the virus in Georgia on Friday, nearly double the 1,570 people hospitalized on July 1.

Wilfredo Lee / Associated PRess

Georgia reported over 4,800 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus on Friday, the highest one-day total since the start of the pandemic, capping a week that also saw the state report its highest-yet death toll.

Those confirmed cases came with a new single-day high-water mark in overall tests conducted, at more than 45,000. Georgia Department of Public Health spokeswoman Nancy Nydam says the increase in total tests reported Friday “was from backlogs at a couple of the labs from last week.”

The state has recorded over 160,000 total confirmed cases, though experts say that many more people are likely infected but never tested.

There were 3,135 currently hospitalized with the virus in Georgia on Friday, nearly double the 1,570 people hospitalized on July 1.

Deaths have been rising sharply in the state.

This week saw Georgia report its second-, third- and fourth-highest death counts since the start of the pandemic, with 78 deaths reported Tuesday, 81 deaths reported Wednesday, and 82 more deaths reported Friday.

Georgia has reported 274 coronavirus deaths so far this week alone, its highest tally yet in a single calendar week, bringing the total number of deaths in the state to at least 3,442.