Officials report new spike has filled hospitals with unvaccinated patients

The number of new COVID-19 infections is rising again in Polk County, with a spike in numbers reported over the past week with 51 new positives reported since Monday according to the latest figures released by the Georgia Department of Public Health this afternoon.

Local DPH officials said the increase is “worrisome” and is bringing with it a new wave of hospitalizations among younger people who were unvaccinated as the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus continues to spread.

In Polk County at the start of the week, PCR Molecular tests for positive COVID-19 results stood at 4,056 people since the first case was reported in early March 2020. That number rose to 4,107 as of this afternoon. Antigen positives are now up 1,833 people. Additionally, new hospitalizations were on the rise as well, up to 391.

Hospitalizations increasing according to the DPH is a cause for concern as area medical centers lose bed space and be able to provide treatment space for patients with other medical concerns.

One good piece of news locally: no new deaths have been reported in weeks. The total number stood at 87 official deaths linked to the virus, and 13 probable deaths.

Statewide, 4,195 new cases were reported this afternoon, along with another 2,019 antigen cases. In total, those figures since last year now stand at 935,870 positives in Georgia residents, along with another 257,569 antigen positives bringing the overall infection total over 1.1 million residents.

The state is up to 18,829 deaths from the virus, 67,848 hospitalizations – up by 33 and 181 respectively on the day – and has reported 11,488 people who have needed ICU care.

Officials from the DPH in Rome reported that new infections are being found in younger people who aren’t vaccinated, and to avoid complications with COVID-19 even in breakthrough infections, people should consider getting shots and avoid real trouble.

“There’s just no doubt. The vaccines are effective against the variants, including the Delta variant,” said Dr. Gary Voccio, Northwest Georgia Public Health Director. “We’ve clearly have now demonstrated – particularly from recent reports from the UK – that the variants at least with the Pfizer vaccine are 88% effective against them.”

Vaccination numbers are down in Polk County compared to the rest of the state – at 41% of the population of Georgia now with two doses.

Locally, there’s only 29% of the population vaccinated fully, just over 12,000 people eligible to get shots.

That’s a problem that even Governor Brian Kemp addressed today. According to Capitol Beat News Service, he said he believes the message is being driven home with Georgia residents who want to protect themselves from the Delta variant. Capitol Beat pointed out in their coverage of his statements that “vaccinations in Georgia have risen 66% since cases of the virus began to increase in recent weeks with the spread of the highly contagious delta variant.”

Kemp however doesn’t want to impose mask-wearing or vaccination mandates on the state. Capitol Beat reported that the Governor said his decision not to impose a statewide mask mandate in Georgia schools is driven by his philosophy of local control.

“We’re doing the same thing we did last year,” he said. “We’re trusting the local school systems, the local boards, to work with their parents, work with their administrations, to make good decisions for each individual school.

“Every school is different. They’re different neighborhoods, different counties. They’re rural. They’re suburban. They’re urban. … I’m confident our schools can make decisions at the local level.”

Public health officials reiterate that those who are vaccinated and get COVID-19 are less likely to report any problematic symptoms, hospitalizations and usually feel it as a summer cold.