CORONAVIRUS IN GEORGIA: State tests 110,000 for virus, doubles tested within last 10 days

GEORGIA — Here’s a roundup of what’s happening so far today, May 8: (Click here for the previous day)

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• The Department of Public Health now reports that every county in Georgia has confirmed cases of coronavirus.
• The state’s number of confirmed COVID-19 cases is up to 31,611 and 1,352 deaths as of Friday morning. The Georgia Department of Public Health updated its website for more hourly numbers.
• Gov. Brian Kemp’s office confirmed to Channel 2 Action News that the state has doubled its coronavirus testing in the last 10 days, with a total of 110,000 people tested in that time.
• The percentage of people tested who test positive for COVID-19 dropped another 2% from last week, down to 14% altogether. Kemp’s office also said reports for hospitalizations and ICU needs continue to fall.
• Today is the first day testing is open to everyone in the state, whether they have symptoms or not. A mass testing site will be open at the Infinite Energy Center in Gwinnett County. Last month’s event tested 800 people.
• Gov. Kemp says there are enough coronavirus tests and urges all Georgians to take one.
• Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff immediately on all city facilities until further notice to honor COVID-19 victims.
• Today marks two weeks since some businesses in Georgia began to reopen. It also marks one week since the shelter in place order ended for most Georgians.
• The Atlanta Motor Speedway and Atlanta Community Food Bank will host a mobile market to help feed families who need it. The mobile markets have already helped more than 10,000 people.
• A new pandemic policy has veterans and healthcare providers debating quality of care within VA hospitals. Channel 2 investigative reporter Nicole Carr takes a look at the issues and the number of cases at Atlanta’s VA hospital.

How businesses are adjusting in 2 weeks since reopening began Today marks 2 weeks since businesses started reopening in Georgia. Channel 2's Steve Gehlbach reports on how it is going for local businesses.

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