COVID-19 cases have increased 60% in the last 14 days in Georgia

Cases of COVID-19 in Georgia have increased by 60% in just the last 14 days.

On Friday, the state reported 2,334 new cases, the highest number of cases reported since early October. The Georgia Department of Health also reported 86 more deaths from the virus.

Deaths have decreased by 52% in the same time period.

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The latest surge in cases comes just a week before Christmas, when many families plan to gather with loved ones.

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Only 50% of Georgians are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Since the pandemic began, more than 26,000 Georgians have died of the virus.

The delta variant of COVID-19 still accounts for 99% of cases in Georgia, although the new, highly-contagious omicron variant has been reported in 39 states.

It’s unclear exactly how many cases of the omicron variant have been detected in Georgia, though there have been at least five. The newest variant of the virus spreads faster than any previous variation, according to the World Health Organization.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Joe Biden’s top medical advisor, said Thursday that omicron will become the dominant Covid-19 variant in the United States within a few weeks. Scientists still have not determined if the omicron variant is more severe, though it does appear to evade some protection from vaccines.

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Cases of the delta variant of COVID-19 have occurred primarily in unvaccinated people in Georgia. People who are not vaccinated were 3.5 times more likely to die of the virus. Only 1,227 Georgians who were fully vaccinated have died of the virus, with around 60% of those between the ages of 65 and 84.

All Georgians ages 5 and older are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.

©2021 Cox Media Group