North Fulton Today

In line with the rest of the nation, COVID-19 cases have been on the rise in the state of Georgia, with hospitalizations up around 50% in the last month, according to a report by Fox 5 Atlanta.

While the numbers are up at more than 1,200 patients hospitalized on Dec. 21, this is much lower than the record number of 6,000 reached in September during the last surge. However, this number is still concerning when noting it was only 824 patients a month ago.

"We are fortunate that our cases are relatively low right now in south Georgia, but based on what is happening all across the country, we do not expect that to last long," Scott Steiner, CEO of Albany-based Phoebe Putney Health System, said in a statement. "We strongly encourage all eligible individuals to receive a COVID vaccine and booster shot, and please be cautious as you travel and gather over the holidays.”

While Steiner said that the numbers were relatively low in Georgia, it is clear that there is a trend upward as the recent spike brings the average over a week to 2,100. This is comparable to the first week of October. Georgia has seen four peaks in COVID-19 through the pandemic.

The Georgia Department of Public Health said the rise in cases was notable in the City of Atlanta and its suburbs to the northwest, which is drastically different than the previous COVID-19 surges.

According to the report, just over 50% of Georgia’s population is vaccinated, which puts the state as the sixth lowest in the U.S. It added that most people who are being hospitalized are unvaccinated. 

The CDC estimates that the omicron variant has taken over new infections in the region where delta once surged. It reportedly accounts for 90% of new infections.