According to a report released last week by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, COVID-19 continues to spread at a high rate in Chattooga County, despite the fact that the COVID-19 vaccination is now available.

In Chattooga County, 26 new cases in calculates to about 53 a week per 100,000 people.  While that number may seem high, it is not nearly as high as Floyd County where 100 new cases per week per 100,000 is being reported.  Meanwhile, Bartow County has the highest infection rate of any Northwest Georgia county at 150 cases per 100,000.

Its COVID Data Tracker, the CDC shows just four South Georgia counties with the spread relatively under control. A swath down the eastern side of the state — and south below the Gnat Line — is a “moderate spread” zone. The rest of the Georgia counties are listed as having either a substantial or high rate of spread.

The CDC report looked at cases through Thursday. The latest information from the Georgia Department of Public Health shows that Floyd and surrounding counties — except Bartow — could be downgraded to a “substantial” rate of between 50 and 99 new cases a week per 100,000 people.

So far, sixty people have died of COVID-19 in Chattooga County, according to the latest numbers from the CDC.