7:30 p.m.:

Georgia recorded 13 more coronavirus deaths since noon, bringing the state’s death toll to 176, Chelsea Prince and Zachary Hansen report.

The DPH also confirmed 96 more cases of COVID-19, which brings the state’s total to 5,444. Of those, 1,129 patients are hospitalized, which is about 20.7% of all cases.

» Coronavirus in Georgia: stats in real time

4:45 p.m.: In the fight against COVID-19, some experts are hoping the heat and humidity that draw complaints from locals may prove beneficial. Nedra Rhone talked to experts about whether the rise in temperature will help fight the virus.

Noon:

Georgia’s coronavirus cases surpassed 5,000, Chelsea Prince reports.

The latest data from the Georgia Department of Public Health shows 5,348 confirmed cases, up about 13% from 4,748 cases Wednesday night. Nine more Georgians have died as a result of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, bringing the state’s total to 163.

11:30 a.m.: Dougherty County Probate Judge Nancy Stephenson died late Wednesday, according to a post on the Council of Probate Court Judges of Georgia Facebook page. The post revealed the Albany woman died from complications related to COVID-19, Stephanie Toone reports.

» Your money: Resources during the coronavirus pandemic

9 a.m.: Local doctors, paint stores, ham provisioners, optometrists, food deliverers, gas stations and others are scrambling for increasingly innovative ways to make their interactions with the public as touchless and distant as possible to avoid spreading the new coronavirus. Matt Kempner tells you what they're doing.

6 a.m.: Georgia Power's parent company is warning investors that the coronavirus pandemic could disrupt its nuclear power expansion at Plant Vogtle, a project that already is far behind schedule. Matt Kempner explains what that means.

OVERNIGHT

New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and Texas-based RoweDocs plans to provide drive-through coronavirus testing for 1,000 people this weekend on the church's Stonecrest campus.

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