The Georgia Department of Public Health reported Washington County’s first COVID-19 related death in its 7 p.m. Friday, April 17 report.
According to the DPH’s report, the deceased was a 66-year-old male with underlying conditions.
Washington County’s number of confirmed COVID-19 cases also rose to 24 in the Georgia Department of Public Health’s 7 p.m. report for Friday, April 17.
The most recent report at 7 p.m. on Friday showed an overall increase in cases throughout the state, going from 17,194 at noon on Friday to 17,432 confirmed cases in the state in the Department of Public Health’s evening report on Friday.
As of 7 p.m. on Friday, April 17, Georgia had 3,395 hospitalized.
The Department of Public Health notes that the significant increase in cases is in part due to additional laboratories reporting to DPH, and also improvements in electronic reporting from other laboratories. Patient information is often incomplete and DPH works to complete the records, so data will change over time.
The confirmed number of COVID-19 deaths in the state rose from 650 to 668.
The Department of Public Health notes that this data represents confirmed cases reported to the Georgia Department of Public Health. A confirmed case is defined as a person who has tested positive for 2019 novel coronavirus.
The Department of Public Health began providing additional information concerning the COVID-19 cases throughout the state in their Friday, March 27 evening report; the additional data identifies the number of confirmed cases by County, as well as the number of deaths (if any) by County.
Washington County is part of the North Central Health District. The North Central Health District is a 13-county district in Central Georgia. It includes: Baldwin, Bibb, Crawford, Hancock, Houston, Jasper, Jones, Monroe, Peach, Putnam, Twiggs, Washington and Wilkinson.
The following is the breakdown of where those confirmed cases are located throughout the North Central Heath District and the number of deaths by County:
- Baldwin County: 112 confirmed cases and two deaths
- Bibb County: 191 confirmed cases and one death
- Crawford County: 13 confirmed cases and no deaths
- Hancock County: six confirmed cases and no deaths
- Houston County: 164 confirmed cases and 10 deaths
- Jasper County: 14 confirmed cases and no deaths
- Jones County: 16 confirmed cases and no deaths
- Monroe County: 15 confirmed cases and one death
- Peach County: 32 confirmed cases and two deaths
- Putnam County: 17 confirmed cases and one death
- Twiggs County: four confirmed cases and no deaths
- Washington County: 24 confirmed cases and one death
- Wilkinson County: 20 confirmed cases and one death
COVID-19 is spread by an infected person’s coughs and sneezes or close contact with an infected individual. Symptoms appear within two to 14 days after exposure and can include fever, cough and shortness of breath. The best way to protect against COVID-19 is to practice germ prevention:
- Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water a not available, us an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
- Avoid touching your nose, eyes and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are ill.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough and sneeze with a tissue, then dispose of the tissue. If a tissue is not available, use the inside of your elbow to cover yourself.
- Regularly clean and disinfect high-touch objects and surfaces