As of Friday, there were fourteen COVID patients in Rome area hospitals.  Atrium Health Floyd had nine patients and Advent Health Redmond had five patients.  According to the latest COVID report from the Georgia Department of Public Health, Northwest Georgia has seen the largest increase in the number of COVID cases since mid-April over the past week.  The Georgia Department of Public Health reports 287 additional cases in the region for the week ending Wednesday. The previous high since weekly reporting began in mid April: 197 through June 8th.  Georgia also reported 43 COVID deaths, the fewest in four weeks. Three of those deaths came from Northwest Georgia and included residents of Floyd, Polk and Chattooga Counties.