After months of generally low COVID-19 numbers reported by state and local officials, the novel coronavirus is again on the rise in Dawson County and north Georgia. 

On Friday, Dec. 11, the Dawson County School system reported that more than 200 students and teachers are now under quarantine for suspected exposure to COVID-19, with active positive test results confirmed this week for nine students and 20 school system staff. The majority of these cases were added in the three days since the school system's last update on Tuesday, Dec. 8. 

"We continue to follow all guidelines put in place by the Georgia Department of Education and the Department of Public Health," the school system said in a Facebook post on Friday afternoon. "We encourage you to wear a mask, use social distancing when possible, and wash your hands frequently."  

In Dawson County at large, COVID-19 cases have continued to steadily rise since the pandemic's low point in mid-October. Over the last two weeks, 170 positive cases of the virus were reported in Dawson County. 

All told Georgia has recorded 462,175 cases of COVID-19, with 9,123 deaths and 37,017 hospitalizations, according to data provided by the Georgia Department of Public Health. Dawson County has recorded 1,273 cases of the virus, 11 deaths and 118 hospitalizations.