Kemp: Georgia Marks Lowest COVID-19 Positive Hospitalizations Since Early April

Governor Brian Kemp announced Tuesday that Georgia reached its lowest number of COVID-19 positive patients hospitalized since hospitals started reporting data to the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) on April 8.

At 986 COVID-19 positive patients currently hospitalized, Georgia has seen an approximate 12% decrease over the last week with 1,125 patients hospitalized on May 12, and a 34% decrease from 1,500 patients hospitalized on May 1.

“Our hospitalization numbers continue to show encouraging signs in our fight against COVID-19, but we must remain vigilant in our efforts to combat this virus,” said Governor Kemp. “I continue to ask Georgians to practice social distancing, follow the advice of public health officials, and protect the elderly and medically fragile.”

The news comes on the heels of an announcement last week that the state of Georgia and local governments across the state had received a total of $5.8 billion in federal assistance since the passage of the CARES Act.

The $5.8 billion is in addition to the billions that Georgians are receiving in stimulus checks and that Georgia businesses are receiving in Paycheck Protection Program loans and other relief loans.

Georgia and local governments have received $5.8 billion to fight the coronavirus, recover economically:

• $4.1 billion in direct assistance to the state of Georgia
• $32 million for administering expanded unemployment benefits
• $457.2 million for K-12 education
• $105.4 million for K-12 and higher education
• $522.2 million in infrastructure grants for urban and rural communities
• $410.8 million in economic relief for airports
• $50.5 million in Community Development Block Grants for Georgia and local governments
• $25.4 million for homeless assistance grants
• $144.4 million for Child Care Development Block Grants

Source: House Budget Committee