January’s jump in COVID-19 cases continues to linger, with dozens of new positives added in the past few days, along with a pair of new deaths and more people admitted to area hospitals for treatment.

COVID-19 today was reported to be responsible in some part for two more deaths in Polk County, bringing the overall figure to 61 since tracking began.

As in the past with death reporting for COVID-19 locally, the total number is not matching up with the data on individuals who have died locally. Now 14 people who were previously reported to have died from COVID-19 are missing from the individual information provided by the Georgia Department of Public Health. No explanation has yet be proffered as to why.

Today’s two deaths added to the database included a 78-year-old white male with co-morbidity factors listed. No information was available on the second death, the fourth time since MLK Jr. Day that a death has been added to the database but no corresponding information was immediately available.

It brought the total number of deaths in Polk County to 17 on the month and year so far, the deadliest month since tracking began locally. Also of note, on Wednesday the number of probable deaths increased to four, jumping by two this month alone after a long stretch of just two overall in Polk County when that figure was added to state tracking on a daily basis last year.

Here’s the list of deaths so far reported from COVID-19 in 2021.

Along with the deaths, the past several days have seen a jump in new hospitalizations as well. Nine people have been admitted in the past three days – three on Tuesday, and six more this afternoon – to the state’s database. That brings the total for the month to 76 patients treated for COVID-19 added to the DPH figures.

Total hospitalizations since tracking began last March for the virus now sits at 297.

Georgia DPH figures put the total number of PCR positives for the virus now at 3,384, with an increase since Monday of 58 new positives for the virus. On Tuesday, 18 new positives were added, and the past two days 22 have been added to the tally each day.

That brings the total for 2021 to 785 – still the highest figure for a monthly increase during any point of COVID-19 positives being tracked in Polk County since last March when the first case was reported.

Amid the January spike following the holidays, Polk County saw a two-week average of new cases spike to greater levels than ever before as well: 32.6% for two days in a row much earlier in the month. New positives are now down on a slow run to a rate today of 18.1%, and no increase in the overall percentage of 16.2% has been noted since January 19. (More on overall numbers when the month is concluded and the daily data can show some better insights on what’s happening.)

With the total number of positives from PCR tests at 3,384 and the overall percentage positive, using a formula with these data points the total number of tests administered for live infections now sits at 20,888.

DPH reporting for antibody testing is another story entirely. Those figures haven’t had the spike that went along with the post-holiday increase in new cases. Instead, that’s been on a steady rise for weeks on end. Polk started the year with 882 antigen positive cases, and as of this afternoon now sits at 1,315. That’s an average increase of 15 antigen positives on the day, compared to the 28 new cases through PCR testing found per day.

Statewide totals remain on the rise despite some slowdown from the huge daily jumps seen in recent weeks.

Another 5,700+ were added on Tuesday for PCR numbers, more than 4,100 on Wednesday and a jump of 5,400+ cases today increased the overall total to 737,205 – on track to reach nearly 750,000 PCR cases in Georgia by month’s end. That would mark a huge monthly increase compared to those in all of 2020, with 161,810 new positives added so far.

Antigen positives on the state level add another 2,000+ cases on the day over the past three days, bringing the overall total since those figures began being reported to 155,762. The antigen positives this month have thus far increased by 53,234 new antigen positives on the New Year so far.

Deaths and hospitalizations continue to climb by the hundreds over the past days as well. Georgia’s death toll today alone increase by 147 more people who have perished from the virus or symptoms worsening other conditions, and have remained in that range for the past three days. The state reports that 12,280 people have died from COVID-19 since tracking began.

This year, 2,391 people have so far died.

Another 361 patients were hospitalized today, that number close to another grim milestone figure. 49,608 people have now been treated for COVID-19 since tracking began late last February for the virus. Additionally, 8,331 people have been treated in intensive care units statewide, that number jumping since Monday by another 128 Georgians who need around the clock care.

Nationally, the number of COVID-19 positives have increased to 25,456,670 total cases reported since January 21, 2021. Just in the past 28 days, that number has increased by 5,792,694. Today’s increase confirmed by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention 155,504, a drop compared to the new cases being reported at staggering rates earlier in the month.

The number of deaths today according to the Atlanta-based agency across the country is at 4,107, bringing the total to 427,626 people who have died from COVID-19.