AU Health System now has nine new positive cases of COVID-19, the health system said this morning. Georgia also saw a tremendous jump in cases and deaths.

March 20 Update: 13 COVID-19 cases at Augusta University Health, screening and testing ramped up

AU Health System reported nine positive cases of COVID-19 as of Thursday, an increase of three from the numbers it reported the previous day, spokeswoman Christen Engel said.

Georgia also saw a dramatic rise in its COVID-19 cases and deaths.

The Georgia Department of Public Health said it now has 287 cases and 10 deaths from COVID-19, up 90 cases from the previous day and seven deaths from the three deaths it had been reporting. The state is only reporting two confirmed positive cases for Richmond County and one for Columbia County, with the vast majority in the metro Atlanta area and hotpots like Albany.

The problem in Albany appeared to stem from two funerals attended by infected people and the state has now sent public health personnel there and is setting up its second regional high-capacity testing there, officials said. The state is also working to set up an isolation unit there, Gov. Brian Kemp said.

"This situation could not be more serious," he said. The increase in cases around the state had been expected as testing has ramped up, Kemp said.

"The more we test, the more we find," he said.

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As it began drive-up testing Wednesday at Christenberry Fieldhouse, AU Health had originally scheduled around 20 patients it has previously screened through its website and app but ended up doing 50 at the site, she said, Another 110 have been scheduled for Thursday, Augusta University President Brooks Keel said. All of the positive cases resulted from testing either in the Emergency Department or from the testing at Christenberry, Engel said.

Since it began promoting a hotline, website and app as a way for people to contact AU Health and schedule a virtual visit to be screened by a doctor or advanced practice professional, and potentially be referred for COVID-19 testing if warranted, both have proved very popular. The hotline had received 800 calls as of Thursday afternoon and 930 patients have had virtual visits, with 185 referred for drive-through testing, Keel said.

At a virtual town hall Thursday afternoon, he closed with a simple message for his students, faculty and staff and the community.

"Stay calm," Keel said. "Stay focused. Stay home. And wash your hands."

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