STATESBORO — Since the outbreak of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the state of Georgia has taken quite a hit.

As of noon Friday, there have been 2001 cases in Georgia and 64 deaths, which means 3.2% of the cases have been fatal, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health.

In comparison to places like China and Italy, the number of cases that Georgia has reported may seem minor, but within the United States, Georgia is one of the top 20 states with the highest number of cases, according to data from the CDC.

After the first cases in Georgia were reported at the beginning of March, the state has taken a number of precautions to ensure the safety of the citizens.

Gov. Brian Kemp signed Georgia’s first public health emergency declaration after the United States’ national emergency declaration.

Following this declaration, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms declared a city-wide state of emergency banning all gatherings of more than 50 people, which was eventually reduced to gatherings of 10 or more people

On March 23, Bottoms issued an executive stay-at-home order to extend 14 days. Also, Mayor Jonathan McCollar declared Statesboro to be under a state of emergency until April 7.

On March 24, a Statesboro medical practice reported a case of coronavirus, but Bulloch County has not appeared on Georgia DPH’s Daily Status Report showing confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Georgia counties.

Retail stores such as Adidas, Belk, and Ulta Beauty have closed and many food chains have switched to delivery and to-go orders only.

Social distancing and self-quarantine have been encouraged and with almost 50% of the nation issuing statewide stay-at-home orders, Georgia could be next.

Alexis Hampton, The George-Anne News Editor, gaeditor@georgiasouthern.edu