Editing COVID-19 pandemic in Georgia (U.S. state) (section)

==Timeline==
{{Stack|clear=right|{{COVID-19 pandemic data/United States/Georgia medical cases chart}}}}

===February to March 2020===
On February 29 and March 7, about 20 people contracted the virus at funerals in the same funeral home in [[Albany, Georgia|Albany]]. The state health department notified the funeral home about potential exposure to the virus on March 13. The city went on to lead the state in COVID-19 deaths and to have one of the highest infection rates in the country, with the outbreak linked to the funerals.<ref name=Schrade>{{cite news |last1=Schrade |first1=Brad |last2=Edwards |first2=Johnny |title=City under siege: Coronavirus exacts heavy toll in Albany |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional/city-under-seige-coronavirus-exacts-heavy-toll-albany/xC9NO677gfDQSaGEQDXSAN/ |access-date=April 17, 2020 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=March 27, 2020 |archive-date=June 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603103844/https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional/city-under-seige-coronavirus-exacts-heavy-toll-albany/xC9NO677gfDQSaGEQDXSAN/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Chavez |first1=Nicole |last2=Barajas |first2=Angela |last3=Gallagher |first3=Dianne |title=How two funerals helped turn one small Georgia city into a hotspot for coronavirus |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/02/us/albany-georgia-coronavirus/index.html |access-date=April 17, 2020 |work=CNN |date=April 3, 2020 |archive-date=May 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200513165710/https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/02/us/albany-georgia-coronavirus/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Willis |first1=Haisten |last2=Williams |first2=Vanessa |title=A funeral is thought to have sparked a covid-19 outbreak in Albany, Ga. — and led to many more funerals |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/a-funeral-sparked-a-covid-19-outbreak--and-led-to-many-more-funerals/2020/04/03/546fa0cc-74e6-11ea-87da-77a8136c1a6d_story.html |access-date=April 17, 2020 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=April 4, 2020 |archive-date=May 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200523171938/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/a-funeral-sparked-a-covid-19-outbreak--and-led-to-many-more-funerals/2020/04/03/546fa0cc-74e6-11ea-87da-77a8136c1a6d_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On March 2, state officials announced the first two known cases in Georgia: a [[Fulton County, Georgia|Fulton County]] man in his 50s and his teenage son who had returned on February 22 from a trip to [[Milan, Italy]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/first-cases-coronavirus-confirmed-georgia/4P22YK37OBF2ZIC5VY2YOX7KDE |title=Two cases of coronavirus confirmed in metro Atlanta |date=March 2, 2020 |work=wsbtv |access-date=March 2, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200303032620/https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/first-cases-coronavirus-confirmed-georgia/4P22YK37OBF2ZIC5VY2YOX7KDE/ |archive-date=March 3, 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=March 3, 2020|access-date=March 3, 2020|title=Fulton County coronavirus cases are 56-year-old dad, 15-year-old son, officials say|last=Raymond|first=Jonathan|url=https://www.11alive.com/article/news/health/fulton-county-coronavirus-cases/85-9f552f0f-5d2f-4043-9b7c-738d914b8d1a|work=[[WXIA-TV|11 Alive]]|archive-date=January 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105150744/https://www.11alive.com/article/news/health/fulton-county-coronavirus-cases/85-9f552f0f-5d2f-4043-9b7c-738d914b8d1a|url-status=live}}</ref>

On March 6, public health officials reported a presumptive positive case involving a 46-year-old woman in [[Floyd County, Georgia|Floyd County]] that appeared unrelated to international travel.<ref>{{cite web|date=March 6, 2020|access-date=March 6, 2020|title=Floyd County Woman Preliminarily Tests Positive For Coronavirus|last=Gantt|first=Taylor|work=[[Georgia Public Broadcasting]]|url=https://www.gpbnews.org/post/floyd-county-woman-preliminarily-tests-positive-coronavirus|archive-date=April 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411113651/https://www.gpbnews.org/post/floyd-county-woman-preliminarily-tests-positive-coronavirus|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=March 6, 2020|access-date=March 6, 2020|title=Floyd County hospital reports preliminary case of coronavirus|last=Prince|first=Chelsea|work=[[The Atlanta Journal Constitution]]|url=https://www.ajc.com/news/breaking-news/breaking-floyd-county-hospital-reports-preliminary-case-coronavirus/jdJ51FpSCJGJk4gibQEg6M/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200307142633/https://www.ajc.com/news/breaking-news/breaking-floyd-county-hospital-reports-preliminary-case-coronavirus/jdJ51FpSCJGJk4gibQEg6M/|archive-date=March 7, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

On March 8, Governor [[Brian Kemp]] announced that a number of Americans on the cruise ship ''[[Grand Princess]]'' — including 34 Georgians — would be "securely transferred" to [[Dobbins Air Reserve Base]] for testing and quarantine on March 9 or 10. That night, Kemp said four currently hospitalized Georgians had been tested for COVID-19, with the [[Georgia Department of Public Health]] waiting for confirmation from the CDC; one person was a resident of [[Cherokee County, Georgia|Cherokee County]], two were residents of [[Cobb County]], and one a resident of Fulton County.<ref name="ajc-burns-2020-03-09">{{cite web |last1=Burns |first1=Asia Simone |title=[Four] more possible coronavirus cases as Ga. set to quarantine cruise passengers |url=https://www.ajc.com/lifestyles/breaking-grand-princess-cruise-passengers-quarantined-cobb/CMqI7xKAiWbAAnkEs3E1jL/ |publisher=[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]] |access-date=March 9, 2020 |date=March 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200309033255/https://www.ajc.com/lifestyles/breaking-grand-princess-cruise-passengers-quarantined-cobb/CMqI7xKAiWbAAnkEs3E1jL/ |archive-date=March 9, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Additional Presumed Positive Cases of COVID-19 in Georgia |url=https://dph.georgia.gov/press-releases/2020-03-08/additional-presumed-positive-cases-covid-19-georgia |publisher=Georgia Department of Public Health |access-date=March 9, 2020 |date=March 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200309183633/https://dph.georgia.gov/press-releases/2020-03-08/additional-presumed-positive-cases-covid-19-georgia |archive-date=March 9, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On March 10, the Department of Public Health reported five additional cases, bringing the state total to 22. The majority of cases were in Cobb County (7 cases) and Fulton County (6 cases).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dph.georgia.gov/press-releases/2020-03-10/five-new-presumptive-positive-covid-19-cases-georgia|title=Five New Presumptive Positive COVID-19 Cases in Georgia|website=Georgia Department of Public Health|language=en|access-date=March 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200312132928/https://dph.georgia.gov/press-releases/2020-03-10/five-new-presumptive-positive-covid-19-cases-georgia|archive-date=March 12, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> On March 11, the state announced nine more cases, making the total 31 presumed, with twelve confirmed.<ref name="ajc-03-11-2020-bluestein">{{cite web |last1=Bluestein |first1=Greg |title=Georgia now has 31 presumed and confirmed cases of coronavirus |url=https://www.ajc.com/blog/politics/georgia-now-has-presumed-and-confirmed-cases-coronavirus/COVj8oSFuTa1RanBKrDY1L/ |publisher=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |access-date=March 12, 2020 |date=March 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200312064305/https://www.ajc.com/blog/politics/georgia-now-has-presumed-and-confirmed-cases-coronavirus/COVj8oSFuTa1RanBKrDY1L/ |archive-date=March 12, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On March 12, the Governor's office reported the first death in the state of Georgia related to the pandemic — the 67-year-old man who had underlying health conditions.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-outbreak-03-12-20-intl-hnk/h_1df1e002c78d812fa27b863c15830ecc|title=US death toll in coronavirus outbreak climbs to 39|website=CNN|access-date=March 13, 2020|archive-date=March 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323125353/https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-outbreak-03-12-20-intl-hnk/h_1df1e002c78d812fa27b863c15830ecc|url-status=live}}</ref> He had attended the funeral held in Albany on February 29.<ref name=Schrade/> A dining facility worker at [[Moody Air Force Base]], near [[Valdosta, Georgia|Valdosta]], tested positive for the virus, prompting the temporary closure of the facility for cleaning.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.walb.com/2020/03/12/moody-afb-announces-coronavirus-case/|title=Moody AFB announces Coronavirus case|website=WALB|access-date=March 13, 2020|archive-date=May 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200510043628/https://www.walb.com/2020/03/12/moody-afb-announces-coronavirus-case/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On March 15, Atlanta mayor, [[Keisha Lance Bottoms]], declared a state of emergency in the city, and banned public gatherings of more than 250 people.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/atlanta-mayor-declares-state-emergency-bans-crowds-over-250-people/SHH3KYSNHZDYZLYJXSAEAUINBM/|title=Atlanta mayor declares state of emergency, bans crowds over 250 people|author=WSBTV com News Staff|website=WSBTV|date=March 16, 2020 |language=en-US|access-date=March 16, 2020|archive-date=May 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200523154526/https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/atlanta-mayor-declares-state-emergency-bans-crowds-over-250-people/SHH3KYSNHZDYZLYJXSAEAUINBM/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On March 16, the [[Georgia State Defense Force]] was activated to provide COVID-19 defense support to civil authorities.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dvidshub.net/news/384748/georgia-department-defense-celebrates-384th-national-guard-birthday-with-awards |title=Georgia Department of Defense celebrates 384th National Guard birthday with awards |last=Matthews |first=Isaiah |date=10 December 2020 |website= |publisher=[[Defense Visual Information Distribution Service]] |access-date=29 April 2021 |quote=}}</ref>

On March 24, Governor Brian Kemp ordered all bars and clubs to close.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mdjonline.com/georgia-governor-orders-bars-clubs-closed-amid-coronavirus/article_87865c94-6d52-11ea-a5e4-03e1378b7373.html|title=Georgia governor orders bars, clubs closed amid coronavirus|author=AP WireStaff|website=Marietta Daily Journal|language=en-US|access-date=March 16, 2020|archive-date=May 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200526034755/https://www.mdjonline.com/georgia-governor-orders-bars-clubs-closed-amid-coronavirus/article_87865c94-6d52-11ea-a5e4-03e1378b7373.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== April to June 2020 ===

[[File: Empty paper towel shelves, CVS, Valdosta.jpg|thumb|An empty aisle of shelving after widespread [[panic buying]] of paper towels at a [[CVS Pharmacy|CVS]] in Valdosta]]

On April 1, 2020, Governor Kemp ordered that all K-12 schools close through the end of the 2019–20 academic year.<ref name=aprilschoolclosures/> On April 2, Kemp issued a statewide shelter in place order, saying he had just learned "within the last 24 hours" that [[asymptomatic carrier]]s could transmit the disease even if they were not exhibiting symptoms. However, documents show that state officials were warned about so-called community transmission as early as March 2.<ref name="Judd"/>

Governor Kemp issued an order effective April 3 suspending local shelter-in-place mandates, reopening beaches so long as people stay six feet apart.<ref>{{cite news |last=Deese |first=Kaelan |date=April 4, 2020 |title=4 Georgia beaches reopen after governor's executive order |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/news/491157-georgia-beaches-reopen-after-governors-executive-order |url-status=live |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |location= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200409173031/https://thehill.com/homenews/news/491157-georgia-beaches-reopen-after-governors-executive-order |archive-date=April 9, 2020 |access-date=April 6, 2020}}</ref>

On April 8, Governor Kemp extended the statewide shelter in place order through the end of April.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ajc.com/blog/politics/breaking-kemp-extends-shelter-place-order-georgia-through-april/TsMutJJldcp9FTb3QTD00J/|title=Kemp extends shelter in place order in Georgia through April|first=Greg|last=Bluestein|website=ajc|access-date=April 8, 2020|archive-date=April 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417081612/https://www.ajc.com/blog/politics/breaking-kemp-extends-shelter-place-order-georgia-through-april/TsMutJJldcp9FTb3QTD00J/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On April 17, four [[Tyson Foods]] employees died of COVID-19 in [[Camilla, Georgia]], and an undisclosed number were infected.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=April 17, 2020 |title=4 Georgia poultry workers dead from coronavirus, company says |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/4-georgia-poultry-workers-dead-coronavirus-company-says-n1186326 |url-status=dead |work=[[NBC News]] |location=[[Savannah, Georgia]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201225032341/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/4-georgia-poultry-workers-dead-coronavirus-company-says-n1186326 |archive-date=December 25, 2020 |access-date=January 31, 2021 }}</ref>

From June 17–27, the [[YMCA]]’s Camp High Harbor on [[Lake Burton (Georgia)|Lake Burton]] in [[Rabun County, Georgia|Rabun County]] held an orientation and a camp session for 597 Georgia residents. On June 24, a teenage counselor tested positive and the camp started sending campers home, shutting down the camp on June 27. Of the 344 people tested,  260 (44%) were positive for COVID-19.<ref>{{cite news |author=WSBTV.com News Staff |date=July 31, 2020 |title=Hundreds of Georgia campers infected with coronavirus at YMCA camp in just days, CDC report finds |url=https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/hundreds-georgia-campers-infected-with-coronavirus-ymca-summer-camp-cdc-report-finds/EL5FFTVSDVETRGROPEXK6CIZNM/ |url-status=live |work=[[WSB-TV]] |location=[[Rabun County, Georgia]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731221111/https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/hundreds-georgia-campers-infected-with-coronavirus-ymca-summer-camp-cdc-report-finds/EL5FFTVSDVETRGROPEXK6CIZNM/ |archive-date=July 31, 2020 |access-date=August 1, 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite report |author=Christine M. Szablewski, DVM |author2=Karen T. Chang, PhD |author3=Marie M. Brown, MPH |author4=Victoria T. Chu, MD |author5=Anna R. Yousaf, MD |author6=Ndubuisi Anyalechi, MD |author7=Peter A. Aryee, MBA |author8=Hannah L. Kirking, MD |author9=Maranda Lumsden |author10=Erin Mayweather |author11=Clinton J. McDaniel, MPH |author12=Robert Montierth, PharmD |author13=Asfia Mohammed |author14=Noah G. Schwartz, MD |author15=Jaina A. Shah |author16=Jacqueline E. Tate, PhD |author17=Emilio Dirlikov, PhD |author18=Cherie Drenzek, DVM |author19=Tatiana M. Lanzieri, MD |author20=Rebekah J. Stewart, MSN, MPH |date=July 31, 2020 |title=SARS-CoV-2 Transmission and Infection Among Attendees of an Overnight Camp — Georgia, June 2020 |url=https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6931e1.htm?s_cid=mm6931e1_w |publisher=[[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]] |access-date=August 1, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731170819/https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6931e1.htm?s_cid=mm6931e1_w |archive-date=July 31, 2020 |quote=The overall attack rate was 44% (260 of 597), 51% among those aged 6–10 years, 44% among those aged 11–17 years, and 33% among those aged 18–21 years. Attack rates presented are likely an underestimate because cases might have been missed among persons not tested or whose test results were not reported}}</ref>

=== July 2020 to present===

By July 20, there were COVID-19 outbreaks at several [[nursing home]]s and senior care facilities in northwest Georgia. Across eleven facilities, there were 248 infected residents, 130 infected staff members, and 32 deaths.<ref>{{cite news |last=Parker |first=Collins |date=July 20, 2020 |title=Dalton Nursing Home leads latest Covid-19 outbreak in northwest Georgia |url=https://wdef.com/2020/07/20/dalton-nursing-home-leads-latest-covid-19-outbreak-northwest-georgia/ |url-status=live |work=wdef.com |location=DALTON, Georgia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724182729/https://wdef.com/2020/07/20/dalton-nursing-home-leads-latest-covid-19-outbreak-northwest-georgia/ |archive-date=July 24, 2020 |access-date=August 1, 2020 }}</ref>

On August 6, a photo and a video of a crowded hallway at [[North Paulding High School]] was posted to social media, highlighting a lack of [[social distancing]] and low rate of [[Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|face mask usage]] at the school. Two students received suspensions that were later reversed.<ref>{{cite news |last=Strapagiel |first=Lauren |date=August 6, 2020 |title=Two Students Say They Were Suspended From Their Georgia High School For Posting Photos Of Crowded Hallways |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/laurenstrapagiel/north-paulding-high-school-suspensions-for-hallway-photos |url-status=live |work=[[BuzzFeed News]] |location= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105153229/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/laurenstrapagiel/north-paulding-high-school-suspensions-for-hallway-photos |archive-date=January 5, 2021 |access-date=January 31, 2021}}</ref> On August 10, after one week of resuming in-person classes, six students and three faculty tested positive for COVID-19 at that same school, causing it to close.<ref>{{cite news |last=Booker |first=Brakkton |date=August 10, 2020 |title=9 Test Positive For Coronavirus After In-Person Classes Resume At Georgia High School |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/08/10/900846570/georgia-high-school-temporarily-switches-to-virtual-learning-after-9-positive-te |work=[[NPR]] |location= |access-date=January 31, 2021}}</ref> On August 10, [[Cherokee County School District (Georgia)|Cherokee County School District]] sent more than 250 students and faculty home to quarantine after eleven students and two faculty members tested positive for COVID-19. The students ranged from first grade to twelfth grade.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Stanglin |first1=Doug |last2=Shannon |first2=Joel |date=August 10, 2020 |title=250 students and staff asked to quarantine in Georgia district after one week of school |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2020/08/08/hundreds-students-staff-quarantine-georgia-school-district-cherokee/3327173001/ |url-status=live |work=[[USA Today]] |location= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201007101645/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2020/08/08/hundreds-students-staff-quarantine-georgia-school-district-cherokee/3327173001/ |archive-date=October 7, 2020 |access-date=February 1, 2021}}</ref>

On August 12, Georgia reported its highest single-day death toll since start of the pandemic, at 122 deaths.<ref>{{cite news |date=August 12, 2020 |title=Florida and Georgia report highest single-day death tolls since start of coronavirus pandemic |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/08/11/coronavirus-covid-live-updates-us/ |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |location=Georgia |access-date=August 13, 2020 |archive-date=January 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105150819/https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/08/11/coronavirus-covid-live-updates-us/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On August 25, [[Georgia Tech]] had a total of 302 cases since March. A fraternity with 25 cases was quarantined.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-08-25|title=Georgia Tech quarantines fraternity, reports 51 new cases of COVID-19|url=https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/national-news/georgia-tech-quarantines-fraternity-reports-51-new-cases-of-covid-19/|access-date=2020-09-11|website=KTVE - myarklamiss.com|language=en-US|archive-date=January 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105150746/https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/national-news/georgia-tech-quarantines-fraternity-reports-51-new-cases-of-covid-19/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On September 11, 10% of on-campus students at [[Georgia College & State University|Georgia College and State University]] had tested positive since the beginning of August, for a total of 645 cases. Students were being housed in double rooms, against guidance from the [[American College Health Association]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Burke|first=Lilah|date=2020-09-11|title=10 percent of students at Georgia College have had COVID-19|url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/09/11/10-percent-students-georgia-college-have-had-covid-19|access-date=2020-09-11|website=Inside Higher Ed|language=en|archive-date=January 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105150735/https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/09/11/10-percent-students-georgia-college-have-had-covid-19|url-status=live}}</ref>

On October 16, many attendees at a 7,000 person campaign rally for President Trump in [[Macon, Georgia|Macon]] did not wear masks. A digital billboard nearby displayed the words "Trump COVID Superspreader event."<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|title='Trump COVID Superspreader Event' billboard appears before another MAGA rally|url=https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/trump-covid-superspreader-event-billboard-appears-before-macon-maga-rally/93-65a11d61-4f4a-4590-b879-8c499914c2bf|access-date=2020-10-31|website=wtsp.com|date=October 15, 2020 |language=en-US|archive-date=January 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105150741/https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/trump-covid-superspreader-event-billboard-appears-before-macon-maga-rally/93-65a11d61-4f4a-4590-b879-8c499914c2bf|url-status=live}}</ref>

On October 30, Governor Kemp and his wife began quarantining after exposure to an individual who had tested positive.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Turnage|first=Jeremy|date=2020-10-30|title=Ga. Gov. Brian Kemp, First Lady test negative, but go into quarantine after COVID exposure|url=https://www.wrdw.com/2020/10/30/ga-gov-brian-kemp-first-lady-quarantining-after-covid-exposure/|access-date=2020-10-31|website=WRDW|archive-date=January 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105150751/https://www.wrdw.com/2020/10/30/ga-gov-brian-kemp-first-lady-quarantining-after-covid-exposure/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On January 7, 2021, [[Gwinnett County Public Schools]] had 920 active student and 162 new staff cases. On January 8, 2021, [[Fulton County School System]] had 142 new student and staff cases, and Cherokee County School District (CCSD) cancelled in-person schooling after 441 of the 4,800 staff were out due to either having COVID-19 or being in quarantine after exposure. CCSD had 147 active student and 92 staff COVID-19 infections.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dixon |first=Kristal |date=January 8, 2021 |title=COVID-19 surge, lack of teachers forces Cherokee schools to close classrooms |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/covid-19-surge-lack-of-teachers-forces-cherokee-schools-to-close-classrooms/6ZXVMXXXLFBWJKV63IEZ4UEGII/ |url-status=live |work=[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]] |location= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130173538/https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/covid-19-surge-lack-of-teachers-forces-cherokee-schools-to-close-classrooms/6ZXVMXXXLFBWJKV63IEZ4UEGII/ |archive-date=January 30, 2021 |access-date=February 1, 2021}}</ref>

On March 23, 2021, Governor Kemp announced that all Georgia adults ages 16 and up will be [[eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine]] beginning March 25. <ref>{{cite news |last=Johnson |first=Tee |date=March 23, 2021 |title=All Georgia Adults Can Begin Getting The COVID Vaccine On Thursday -- Here's Where To Get The Shot |url=https://atlantafi.com/georgia-covid-vaccine-eligibility/ |work=[[AtlantaFi.com]]}}</ref>