Latest Atlanta coronavirus news: Deaths increase to 677; 17.8K confirmed cases

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is committed to providing our readers with the most comprehensive coverage of the coronavirus.

This blog will be updated throughout Saturday, April 18, with news and details of COVID-19 in Georgia.

» Complete coverage: Coronavirus 

7 p.m.: In the seven hours since its last update, the Georgia Department of Public Health reported four additional coronavirus-related deaths and 172 new cases, Shaddi Abusaid reports.

1:30 p.m.: The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation updated its projections Friday afternoon and indicated that Georgia's peak for virus-related deaths was April 7, J.D. Capelouto reports.

1 p.m.: As travel plummets due to stay-at-home orders and travel restrictions in response to the coronavirus pandemic, Delta has canceled 115,000 flights this month alone, affecting millions of passengers. Now, A proposed class-action lawsuit against Delta Air Lines alleges the company refused to provide a refund for flights it canceled, Kelly Yamanouchi reports.

Noon: The latest numbers from the Department of Public Health say that another five coronavirus-related deaths were reported in Georgia on Saturday as the number of confirmed cases in the state increased to 17,669, Shaddi Abusaid reports.

Noon: Having trouble sleeping these days? You're not alone, nearly 77% of Americans reported in a recent study that they have been struggling to sleep amid the coronavirus pandemic. Read more and find some tips on sleeping better here.

7 a.m.: Helena Oliviero has a look at major coronavirus developments over the past week.

6 a.m.: Air pollution has exacerbated health outcomes of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, but the pandemic may also be helping — at least temporarily — to clean the air we breathe, Nedra Rhone has more.

OVERNIGHT

• As grocery stores roll out new safety rules, some critics say more's needed to protect workers from the coronavirus, Tamar Hallerman reports.
• The public schools in Macon, a quick drive south of Atlanta, will end the year early, making the 22,000 student district the latest in Georgia to shut down services ahead of their regularly scheduled end of school, Ty Tagami reports.