What does a statistical spike look like? On the local level of COVID-19 positives, it looks much like the above picture after the state reported that over the past four days, there have been 64 new cases of the novel coronavirus.

The graphic above represents the number of cases since the first was reported in Polk County in March through the current day, which has steadily increased over time though with some minor jumps over a week in various cases, and even some decreases in the tally as the Georgia Department of Public Health makes corrections to case tallies based on reporting issues on their end. They even reported a second death from the virus locally, then took it back before any confirmation from Polk County Coroner Tony Brazier could be completed.

The past four days however have seen the highest increases in cases since reporting began, and taken collectively since the July 4 holiday by 66 cases. That’s the greatest jump Polk County has had at one time yet.

Today’s figure (July 10) of 297 cases in total saw an increase in the past 24 hours of 14, with one new hospitalization to bring the total to 18 since tracking began. The local area remains at just the single death reported in May.

The numbers statewide remained on the rise for total positives and hosptializations as well, but have remained on the low side in new deaths even as the number approaches 3,000.

According to the DPH, 4,484 new positives were added to the tally of Georgia residents, bringing the July 10 total to 111,211 cases since tracking began in late February. As of this posting, more than 1.1 million tests have been conducted statewide.

Today’s increase included 331 new hospital cases, with 12,937 hospitalized in total and 2,565 people who have required intensive care treatment.

Sadly, there have been 2,965 deaths statewide from COVID-19.

Around Polk County, the numbers remained on the rise for total cases, but no major increases were noted in the report elsewhere.

Bartow saw an increase of another 20 new positive to bring the total to 879, with 163 people hospitalized and remaining at 42 deaths. Paulding County, closer to the metro area, is quickly catching up to the Bartow figure with a new 34 cases to bring their tally up to 812, with two new hospitalizations with 98 patients. The number of deaths remained at 16.

Floyd saw an increase of 23 new cases as the figure landed at 693 on the day, with 59 hospitalized and 15 deaths. Haralson went up by two cases to sit at 105 people positive for the virus, with 17 people who have required hospital treatment and five deaths.

3,106,931 people have now tested positive for the virus nationwide, a new daily increase of 59,260 cases. The virus has now taken the lives of 132,855 people across the United States, with 799 new deaths reported in the last 24 hours according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Locally, COVID-19 seems to be invading the lives of more people, and the Polk County Health Department is not walled off from the problem. It will remain closed until July 15 after two employees tested positive for the virus.

Additionally, the Health Department posted the following message from Dr. Gary Voccio, health director for the ten-county Northwest Georgia Health District.