Experts confirmed the new COVID-19 variant strain is present in metro Atlanta, and they’re warning the public to continue taking precautions.
Georgia Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Kathleen Toomey noted that although it doesn’t appear to be “more dangerous” in terms of complications, this mutation could spread more quickly than the dominant strain.
Toomey encourages people to take “extra precautions,” including wearing masks, social distancing, washing hands and avoiding crowded places.
“We have identified a case of the new variant strain of COVID-19 in Cobb County," Dr. Janet Memark, director of the Cobb County Department of Public Health, said in a statement. "Although it is not considered the predominant strain at this moment, there is an increasing concern for its high infectivity. This particular characteristic of the new variant strain is the reason that it is very important to continue with public health measures we know to work. This includes wearing a mask, watching your distance, washing your hands, and not gathering with groups of people.”
The Georgia Department of Health has confirmed 707,750 total COVID-19 cases as of Friday (January 22). The department also reported 11,670 deaths, nearly 48,000 hospitalizations and more than 8,100 Intensive Care Unit admissions. More than 6.1 million PCR tests have been administered, Department of Health data show.
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