Deadly GA Milestone: 20,000 Dead From COVID-19

ATLANTA — Georgia surpassed a tragic milestone Friday afternoon as the COVID-19 deaths in the state passed 20,000.

As vaccines came into play to ward off the deadly coronavirus, new strains emerged, with the more contagious delta variant sparking a new spike in cases worldwide among the unvaccinated. Research shows that it results in a higher rate of severe illness and hospitalization than other variants
“It is tragic but not surprising that we have surpassed this grim milestone of 20,000 COVID deaths in our state,” Georgia Department of Public Health commissioner Kathleen E. Toomey, M.D., M.P.H. said Friday in a statement. “Ninety seven percent of COVID deaths since we’ve had vaccine are in unvaccinated individuals. These deaths are preventable.”
State officials continue to urge people ages 12 and over to get the vaccine. Statewide, only 44 percent of Georgians have been fully vaccinated. Among the unvaccinated are children under the age of 12 who are not eligible to be inoculated.
“COVID vaccine is available statewide and is our best tool for ending this pandemic and reducing the overwhelming strain on EMS, the healthcare system and healthcare providers,” Department of Public Health officials said in a .
COVID vaccination locations can be found by logging on to https://dph.georgia.gov/covid-vaccine.