State health director warns Georgians not to let down their guard over COVID-19

ATLANTA — The latest numbers from the Georgia Department of Public Health show 52,497 people have contracted COVID-19 across the state, and the state’s health commissioner is warning people not to let down their guard over the virus.

Dr. Kathleen Toomey said just because the state is opening back up does not mean the coronavirus isn’t still out there.

“We’ve flatten the curve, but that doesn’t mean the virus went away,” Toomey told Channel 2’s Dave Huddleston.

Toomey said even though the numbers are lower, thousands can still get sick, and hundreds can still die from COVID-19.

"The virus is still in our communities. We're still having community transmission and really need to protect ourselves and others," she said.

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On June 8, the state's health department reported there were 43 new cases in the state, but that number could actually be as high as 330 cases, depending on testing results that come in for each day over the next 14 days.

Toomey fears people have become complacent about the virus.

“I think people have forgotten that the virus is still here,” Toomey said.

Huddleston spoke with father Andrae Moton and his son as they were shopping.

He said his family continues to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines — wearing a mask and staying 6 feet apart from others.

"I feel with the virus going on, I feel it’s a necessity to have the mask on at all times,” Moton said.

He said it looks as if a lot of people have forgotten that.

“Until it affects them personally, I think that's the only way they're going to realize there is something going on," Moton said.

State numbers show more than 6,000 people have tested positive for having COVID-19 antibodies, meaning they had the virus, but some might not have known they had it.

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