Northwest Georgia Department of Health says more young people are getting COVID-19

County Executive Ted Rumley warned the public on July 2 during the weekly COVID-19 update of the recent spikes in cases and the age groups that are most affected by the pandemic.

Rumley said he was made aware of the situation in a press release from Dr. Gary Voccio, Health Director for the 10-county Georgia Department of Public Health Northwest Health District. The district includes Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Floyd, Gordon, Haralson, Paulding, Polk and Walker county.

According to the statement, cases have increased by 21 percent over a two-week period in the district. Statewide, daily cases have jumped from 1,000 per day in mid-June to 2,000 cases per day by the end of June. However, there has not been an increase in hospitalizations or deaths.

According to the statement, 22 percent of all current cases are people aged 18 to 29. The average age of COVID-19 patients has also gotten younger, shifting from 55 to 42. Voccio said that this is because more young individuals are getting the virus.