Polk County for the third time in recent days set a new record of COVID-19 positives in a single 24-hour period reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health.

Polk’s tally increased by 38 new positive tests at midweek to 372 in total, and added a hospitalization – the fourth in a week’s time – to increase to 20. So far, no new deaths have been reported by DPH, and remained with just one reported in May.

Statewide, COVID-19 cases increased by 3,871 new positives to bring the overall total to 127,834. That is out of more than 1,154,983 tests conducted since tracking began in late February. Testing remains available at the Polk County Health Department after it re-opened on Monday following a closure for cleaning due to two employees testing positive for the virus.

Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.; testing is also available in Rome, Cartersville and Paulding County.

The number of hospitalized patients due to the virus went up by 417 people in the past 24 hours – including the new patient from Polk – and is up to 14,102 since tracking began. That’s the fourth new person to require hospital treatment locally since the July 4 holiday weekend.

Sadly, 37 Georgians died due to the virus in the past 24 hours, which brings the statewide total to 3,091.

Around the region, new positive remained the major news on the COVID-19 front; unless you count across the state line. Alabama’s Governor (for those in Cherokee County) has now mandated mask use in public anywhere. Masks here in Georgia remain part of the guidelines but use isn’t required, though recommended.

Case growth in Bartow County had already surpassed the 1,000 mark since local tracking of cases began, and stood at 1,058 positives as of midweek. That includes 165 hospitalizations in total, and 45 deaths due to the virus.

Paudling County as of today (July 15) had 912 positives in total, 102 hospital patients reported over the past months of tracking, and remained at 16 deaths on the day. To the north in Floyd County, 784 positives were reported with 60 hospital patients, and 15 deaths recorded.

Haralson County reported 120 cases as of the midweek report, adding a hospitalization to bring the total to 18, and remained at five deaths.

Nationwide, positives stood at 3,416,428, an increase of 60,971 new cases in the past 24 hours. The death toll across the United States now stands at 135,991, an increase of 773 new deaths across the country. These numbers came from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, though news outlets reported that President Trump is ordering numbers to now go through Health and Human Services.