A weekly COVID-19 update released by the Dawson County School System states that 14 local students have now tested positive for the novel coronavirus, while 155 students have been placed in quarantine. 

Last week, the school system announced that two school staff members had tested positive for the virus, but in the report issued on Tuesday morning, that count had been downgraded to one positive staff test result. In total three school staff members have been quarantined due to exposure to COVID-19. 

The Georgia Department of Public Health’s daily COVID-19 report shows Dawson County may be a growing hotspot for the novel coronavirus. 

According to numbers announced on Monday evening, over the past two weeks, Dawson County had the highest COVID-19 case per capita in the north Georgia area, vastly outstripping surrounding counties, with a rate of 785 reported cases per 100,00 people.  

Since March 21, 2020, when Georgia recorded its first case of the virus, more than 590 positive COVID-19 cases have been reported in Dawson County, along with 6 deaths and 64 hospitalizations. 

Statewide, Georgia has recorded 256,253 cases of COVID-19, 5,156 deaths due to the virus and 23,425 hospitalizations.