There was another uptick in the number of COVID-19 cases over the past week in Chattooga County, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health.

Last week’s number show that there were thirty-six new COVID-19 cases confirmed in Chattooga County – that’s up from twenty-eight the previous week.  The latest updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show Floyd, Bartow, Gordon, Polk and Chattooga counties at a “high” spread level, up from “medium” in recent weeks.

According to the CDC, the level of transmission is based on just two metrics: new Covid-19 cases per 100,000 people and the positivity rate, both measured over the last seven days.  A designation of “high” spread level means mask use indoors is now recommended by the CDC.

The BA.5 variant is believed to be the cause for the increased number of COVID-19 cases in Northwest Georgia.