Photograph by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Over the weekend, the governor announced that current hospitalizations reached a new low. Here’s your Monday morning update:
• As of publication time, a total of 33,833 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Georgia. 1,405 people have died. 251,288 tests have been conducted. A total of 6,001 of those tested were hospitalized at the time. [GA Dept. of Public Health]
• On Saturday, Governor Brian Kemp tweeted that the state currently had the fewest hospitalized COVID-19 patients—1,203—since data tracking began on April 8. (The 6,001 figure above is the cumulative number since the pandemic began.) He also said the fewest ventilators were in use at 897 out of 1,945 available. [AJC]
• Thanks to the fact that many dental procedures generally produce some type of aerosol from the patient’s mouth, dentists are at a particular risk for COVID-19. As offices began to re-open, the Georgia Dental Association sent a letter to the governor stating that many offices wouldn’t be able to meet the CDC’s minimum safety requirements, which include having enough N95 masks, gowns, and gloves, the AJC reports. One expert told the paper that hygienists may need to go back to using hand instruments to clean teeth rather than more modern ultrasonic scalers to reduce aerosol spread. [AJC]
• Eater Atlanta is keeping a list of metro Atlanta restaurants that are re-opening their dining rooms and/or patios. A few of the recent additions: Mellow Mushroom, Grana (rooftop and patio only), Le Bilboquet, the Roof at Ponce City Market, and SweetWater Brewing Co. (patio only). [Eater Atlanta]
• WSB-TV has a list of attractions that have re-opened, among them: Battle and Brew gaming restaurant, Bad Axe Throwing, Dave and Buster’s, and the SkyView Ferris wheel. [WSB-TV]
• In Cobb County, private social club the Georgian Club has announced it will permanently close due to the pandemic. [Georgian Club]
• The AJC profiled the owners of Cato Shoe Repair in Buckhead, Joe and Hattie Jordan, who are 82 and 75 respectively. The re-opened their shop this past Monday, but business has been slow. The story chronicles how the couple opened their store, Joe’s dedication to his work, and the struggles of operating a small business during the pandemic. Read the full article here. [AJC]
