Georgia tops 100K confirmed coronavirus cases

Credit: AJC

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The number of confirmed coronavirus cases topped 100,000 on Tuesday, according to new statistics released by the Georgia Department of Public Health.

According to the department, 100,440 cases have been reported in the Peach State, with the death toll now standing at 2,899.

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The department updates its numbers each day about 3 p.m.

In Georgia, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and some of her family members have tested positive for the virus, which continues to spread across the nation as states reopen their economies and lessen social distancing requirements.

Atlanta's fire chief has opted to self-quarantine pending the results of a COVID-19 test, one day after Bottoms announced that she tested positive for the virus.

Randall Slaughter is being tested for the coronavirus "out of an abundance of caution," Atlanta Fire and Rescue spokesman Sgt. Cortez Stafford confirmed to AJC.com on Tuesday.

In an interview with CNN, Bottoms said her husband and one of their children also tested positive for the virus. Another child tested negative, and two others still need to be tested. Bottoms told CNN that she had seen her mother the day prior and that she would need to be tested as well.

As the demand for COVID-19 tests rises, the DeKalb County Board of Health is extending the hours for free testing at two locations this week.

Savannah Mayor Van Johnson tested negative for COVID-19 after a City Hall worker recently tested positive for the illness. The employee has only been identified as someone who works in close proximity to the mayor, whose city became Georgia's first municipality to require protective face masks at all public spaces.

Johnson first proposed mandatory protective masks in all public spaces during an emergency City Council meeting in late June. The meeting was called after an increase in coronavirus cases in Chatham County as the summer tourist season moved into full swing.

Athens was set to consider a similar measure Tuesday.