ATLANTA, GA — The coronavirus pandemic continues to affect the Atlanta area. Schools are closed as students learn through virtual classrooms, nonessential businesses have been ordered to temporarily close and more, as a way to prevent the risk of COVID-19 spreading.

The number of coronavirus deaths and confirmed cases in Georgia spiked over the past 24 hours. The updated tally, released at noon on Tuesday, reflects an increase of more than 1,000 cases from noon on Monday, and 21 additional deaths, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health. Numbers released Tuesday at noon show 108 deaths, 818 hospitalized and 3,817 confirmed cases in Georgia.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Fulton County's 547 cases are the most of any Georgia locality. The next highest totals are 455 in Dougherty County, DeKalb with 325 cases, Cobb with 272 cases, Gwinnett with 233 cases, Bartow with 129 cases and Carroll with 122 cases. Get the latest updates on the new coronavirus in Georgia as they happen. Sign up for free news alerts and a newsletter in your Patch town.

Here is what happened Tuesday in Georgia: GA Tops 100 Coronavirus Deaths, Cases Pass 1,000 A Day ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Gov. Brian Kemp ordered Georgia public schools to remain closed through April 24 due to the coronavirus. The governor says he will make a decision on the remainder of the school year before that date.

The Atlanta Public School Superintendent Dr. Meria Joel Carstarphen wrote in a letter Tuesday that the district is remaining closed.



"Thank you for hanging in there with us over these past two weeks. As you know, given Governor Kemp's recent executive order, Atlanta Public Schools (APS) will remain closed through Friday, April 24. This week begins our third full week of teleschooling and teleworking, and I have to give a huge shout out to the thousands of you — parents, students, and staff — who joined us on Facebook Live this past Thursday for our virtual District Town Hall. It was so refreshing to connect and engage with all of you in this age of social distancing, quarantines, and isolation…" The district's food distribution schedule for students and families will be closed for Spring Break, April 6-10.