COVID-19 cases, vaccination rates and hospital data for Clarke, Oconee as of Aug. 3 – Online Athens

COVID-19 cases are on the rise in Athens and surrounding areas as hospitals see a surge of patients.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates the Delta variant accounts for8% of new COVID cases in Georgia. While county-level data is not available from the Georgia Department of Public health, the state health agency does provide general COVID-19 case information.

In the last two weeks, Athens has seen a total of 254 reported cases of COVID-19, equivalent to196 cases per every 100,000 residents.From July17 to July30, there were 65 emergency department visits for COVID-19.

Since March 2020, there have been 143 confirmed COVID-19-related deaths in the county and six probable deaths, according to DPH.There have been 518 total Clarke Countyhospitalizations due to COVID.

As of Aug. 2, Clarke County is considered by the CDC to be a county of high transmission.

DPH reports that 43% of Clarke County residents have at least one dose of COVID-19 and39% of residents are fully vaccinated.

More: Athens to consider mask mandate, vaccines for ACC employees and cash incentive program

In the last two weeks, Oconee County has seen a total of 79 reported cases of COVID-19, equivalent of 189 cases per every 100,000 residents.

From July17 to July30, there were 13 emergency department visits due to COVID-19 among Oconee residents.

In total, there have been 67 confirmed deaths in the county and seven probable deaths, according to DPH. Therehave been 137 hospitalizations of Oconee County residents.

As of Aug. 2, Oconee County is considered to be a county of high transmission.

DPH reports that 55% of Oconee County residents have at least one dose of COVID-19 and51% of residents are fully vaccinated.

More: Masks will remain optional in Oconee County schools despite changes in CDC guidance

As of Monday morning, the number of COVID-19 patients in St. Mary's hospitals was in the upper 20s, which is an increase over the last few weeks, according to Montez Carter, CEO ofSt. Mary's Health Care System.

Due to this increase, the Athens hospital has at times had to go on diversion, and the hospital went on diversion Monday, according to Carter. This means that at this time, the hospital could not accept any EMS (emergency medical services) patients because its status was "total diversion."

Carter reported that due to the severity of symptoms, many patients have required extended hospital stays and as the number of cases in the area rises, the hospital faces a strain on their bed capacity.

A majority of patients currently hospitalized are those who have not been vaccinated, and unlike in previous surges, there are a higher number of COVID patients in their 30s, 40s and 50s.

Per CDC guidance, we urge everyone to get vaccinated and to return to masking and social distancing to control the spread of the dangerous and highly infectious delta variant, said Carter.

Officials at Piedmont Athens Regional Hospital declined to provide bed capacity data for its hospital, instead, reportedthat its COVID-19 hospitalization trend has followed the state's trend.

The Piedmont hospital is also currently listed as a facility with "total diversion", as of Aug. 2, meaning neither of the Athens area hospitals wereaccepting EMS patients as of Monday.

Information from the Georgia Geospatial Information Office, a government office, presents Georgia hospital data by region. Athens is located in Region E, which also includes other surrounding counties.

For the region, there were 90 COVID-19 patients in medical facilities, or approximately 16% of patients, on Aug. 2. This is the highest that number has been since February 2021.

Though not specifically COVID-related, as of Aug. 2 the region was at 80% capacity for inpatient beds. The region'sICU beds in use were at 94% capacity, and emergency department beds were at 37% capacity. There were 48 adult ventilators in use or 51% of ventilators in the region.

A school-aged data report was generated with data as recent as July 28. The report breaks down grouping by age: preschool and daycare-aged children, from ages 0to 4 years old; K-12 school-aged children, from ages 5to 17 years old; and college and professional school-aged adults, from ages 18 to 22 years old;and then adults who are 23 years or older.

In Clarke County, from the previous 14 days since the report was generated, there were:

In Oconee County from the previous 14 days since the report was generated, there were:

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COVID-19 cases, vaccination rates and hospital data for Clarke, Oconee as of Aug. 3 - Online Athens