The number of people who have tested positive for the coronavirus continues to increase.  Last week, Chattooga County saw the third death from COVID-19, according to numbers from the Georgia Department of Public Health.

The death last week was the first death from COVID-19 reported in Chattooga County since April 28th of this year. As of Sunday afternoon, there were 266 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 12 hospitalizations.

On Friday of last week, Chattooga County School officials announced that there were a total of six people who have tested positive for coronavirus within the school system – five at Chattooga High School and one at Summerville Middle School.  School officials say that those numbers reflect everyone at the schools – including students, teachers and staff.  Trion City Schools have reported that one person connected with the football program has tested positive for COVID-19.

There have been some high-profile cases of COVID-19 in the past three weeks, with all of the jail staff at the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office testing positive for COVID-19 and three judges.  Judge Jon Dennis and Judge Tracy Maddux have both returned to work with no symptoms after quarantining.  Both judges told WZQZ News over the weekend that they were feeling fine and were happy to be back at work.

Meanwhile, Probate Judge Jon Payne continues to recuperate in a Rome hospital.  Judge Payne was admitted to ICU last week, but family members say that he is now showing signs of improvement and is working hard to meet the goals set forth by his doctors.