Well-Being Prevention & Cures

Atlanta convention center to be used as hospital as coronavirus cases mount

coronavirus COVID-19 community spread georgia atlanta dekalb fulton counties hospital makeshift ajc temporary convention center new cases rising sun belt states emory university
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Story at a glance

  • George Gov. Brian Kemp announced a makeshift hospital would be reinstalled as the state battles new coronavirus cases.
  • Neighboring states, such as Florida and South Carolina, are also struggling with the virus.

Georgia is beginning to recreate its makeshift hospital to accommodate the uptick of coronavirus patients state hospitals are receiving, continuing the trend of new virus hotspots occurring in Southern states. 

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) reports that Gov. Brian Kemp’s (R) office announced on Friday that the state will open a new contract to increase bed capacity for an Atlanta hospital prior to the temporary hospital’s construction in the Atlanta convention center.


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Across the state, cases have jumped to a cumulative 111,211, with a record high of newly reported cases occurring on July 10, per state health department data. Hospital cases have also grown with newly confirmed cases, with 2,322 COVID-19 patients hospitalized as of July 9.

The counties with the most cases include Fulton and DeKalb, home to the state’s capital city, Atlanta.

The temporary hospital is set to hold about 200 additional beds and was initially built in April when the state expected a surge of patients as the pandemic ravaged the East Coast. It was closed in May, shortly after the state’s stay-at-home mandate expired in late April. 

The AJC reports that increased sanitary precautions will be taken to minimize disease transmission, including the installation of electrostatic sprayers, touchless payment options and screening for employees upon entrance. 


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