After a day with the lowest number of new cases in weeks, Polk County’s tally of new COVID-19 positives went up by a new record figure.

The total number of COVID-19 cases surpassed 1,100 and was at 1,122 on the day after Polk County saw 48 new positives reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health. The figure was eight more than the previous record of 40 set earlier this month on August 12.

Along with the increase was a jump in the number of new hospital patients with six more people being admitted at area medical centers in the past 24 hours due to the virus. That brought the total figure of hospitalizations at 62. Locally, the number of deaths remained at 12.

Polk County’s total positive rate at 14.8% overall since testing began, and it remained at 15.8% of tests conducted in the past two weeks.

Reminder: to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, please wear a mask when going out and use hand sanitizer, and keep a distance of at least six feet from people.

Statewide, the number of COVID-19 cases jumped again by another 2,236 which brought the overall total since tracking began to 258,354 positives for the virus. That is out of more than 2.5 million tests conducted overall, and put the percentage of positives at 10.6%.

Out of the total number of people with the virus, 23,717 patients have needed treatment in medical centers across the state overall. That was an increase of 292 new patients on the day. As of the afternoon update from the Georgia Department of Public Health, 9.6% of those who have contracted the virus since tracking began have needed hospital treatment.

Some 4,322 Georgia residents as of this afternoon have required treatment in Intensive Care units statewide as well.

The death toll from the virus continues to increase by the day as well in the state. Sadly, another 107 Georgians died due to the virus, which brought the total to 5,262 people.

Nationwide, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting that 33,076 new cases were reported as of Monday, bringing the overall total to some 5,715,567 positives and counting.

The United States has lost 176,617 people to the virus in total, an day-to-day increase of 394 new deaths from Sunday to Monday.