COVID at UGA: testing, cases increase

The University of Georgia reports an increase in coronavirus tests and a corresponding increase in coronavirus cases over the past week: there were 87 positive tests for COVID 19 in the report released Wednesday, up from 79 last week. Of the 87, 63 were UGA students and 24 were staff. There were no reported cases among University faculty members.

“We are excited that so many members of our UGA community are taking advantage of the free surveillance testing being offered on our campus,” said Dr. Garth Russo, executive director of the University Health Center and chair of UGA’s Medical Oversight Task Force. “This is particularly important as we head toward the Thanksgiving holiday. If our students, faculty or staff are planning to be with loved ones, then for the health and welfare of all involved, they need to know if they are virus-free.”

The University System of Georgia says, the coronavirus pandemic notwithstanding, its schools have set a record for enrollment during the ongoing fall semester: there are now more than 341,000 students enrolled in USG colleges and universities, an increase of almost two and a half percent from last year.

The Georgia Department of Public Health says the state added 69 coronavirus deaths in the report that came out Wednesday afternoon. The state’s positive test rate for COVID 19 holds steady at 9.3 percent.

Cox Media Group