COVID-19 PHOTOS: COVERING THE FRONTLINES

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COVID-19 PHOTOS: COVERING THE FRONTLINES

Molecular Biologist Leah Roberts gets a delivery of COVID-19 samples from a local practice ready for testing at Ipsum Diagnostics laboratory on Monday, March 23, 2020. (John Amis for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

March 24, 2020 Albany - A medical professional in protective equipment seals his sleeves with duct tape as he prepares to collect a sample from a potential COVID-19 patient at a Phoebe Putney Health System drive-through testing site in Albany on Tuesday, March 24, 2020. Well off the interstate some 180 miles south-southwest of Atlanta, Albany's struggles with the Coronavirus stick out like a sore thumb on the state's map, as small towns in the region like Americus and Sylvester reported their first cases of the virus on Friday. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

At the testing tent, So Reh, left, has a sample taken by Ansley Clements, right, a nurse at Ethne Health in Clarkston, for corona virus testing Friday, April 3, 2020. Reh has been sick for three days and has missed work. He was given a doctor's note to take to his employer, as well as a few days worth of food since all being tested are asked to self quarantine until they have results in a few days. Ethne Health in partnership with the City of Clarkston, community churches and food banks provides free covid testing for people showing symptoms who live in the Clarkston area. Results will take approximately 3 days before results will be know. The corona virus testing will continue on Saturday. (Jenni Girtman for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

03/13/2020 -- Atlanta, Georgia -- Custodian Brenda Love cleans the door handles at the Georgia State Capitol building during the 29th day of the Georgia Legislative session, Friday, March 13, 2020. Love said she cleaned "everything the public touches" out of caution due to the coronavirus. (ALYSSA POINTER/ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM)

March18, 2020 Riverdale - Stephen Tucker, EMT-A, wearing his protective gear cleans out an ambulance at AmeriPro EMS in Riverdale on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. As Atlanta falls deeper into the grips of the coronavirus pandemic, medical professionals are having trouble finding enough supplies and equipment to treat patients and protect health care providers. Manufacturers in China and elsewhere say not enough products are being shipped over to the U.S. to handle the growing number of cases. As a greater sense of desperation takes hold, some medical professionals are using creative ways to find supplies, including purchasing masks from painting companies and going to Home Depot. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

March 24, 2020 Atlanta: Customer, Pat Snellings (left) gives a prescription to pharmacist, Dawn Sasine (right) at Tuxedo Pharmacy at 164 W Wieuca Rd NE, in Atlanta on Tuesday, March 24, 2020. The pharmacy has been in business since 1981 and is now providing a drive thru pick up with prescriptions and other store items by their team of masked employees with gloves. Their delivery service have tripled and the biggest seller since COVID-19 began is thermometers. JOHN SPINK/JSPINK@AJC.COM

April 15, 2020 Atlanta: Every medical call that Atlanta Fire Rescue paramedics (left) and Grady ambulance crews (right) respond to are taking precautions with gloves and masks. This call on Wednesday, April 15, 2020 was for a man unconscious in the 900 block of Huff Road at Westside Heights according to Atlanta Fire Rescue PIO, Sgt. Cortez Stafford. It turned out to be a non-COVID-19 call. The worst may be yet to come in the pandemic. The number of critically ill patients is expected to surge in coming days, reaching the peak demand on health care resources by May 1. By May 3, projections show deaths in Georgia will reach their peak. Since the outbreak began, 2,759 patients have been hospitalized across the state, including 67 more since Monday night. At a news conference Monday, Gov. Brian Kemp said preparations are being made at the Georgia World Congress Center in downtown Atlanta to set up hundreds of beds to ease the strain on local hospitals. JOHN SPINK/JSPINK@AJC.COM

March 17, 2020 - Smyrna - Farshad Guirakhoo, Chief Scientific Officer at Smyrna-based GeoVax, checks on one of the vaccine candidates for COVID - 19 that his lab is working on. The vaccines, while not harmful, contain snippets of COVID - 19 virus DNA. At least a half-dozen efforts are underway in Georgia to research, develop treatments and vaccines for COVID - 19 which currently does not have an FDA approved treatment or vaccine. Bob Andres / robert.andres@ajc.com

March 17, 2020 - Smyrna - The view through a microscope at Smyrna-based GeoVax of one of the vaccine candidates for COVID - 19 that the lab is working on. The vaccines, while not harmful, contain snippets of COVID - 19 virus DNA. At least a half-dozen efforts are underway in Georgia to research, develop treatments and vaccines for COVID - 19 which currently does not have an FDA approved treatment or vaccine. Bob Andres / robert.andres@ajc.com

March 16, 2020 Atlanta: Two TSA screeners wear masks and gloves in the International Terminal at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport on Monday, March 16, 2020, in Atlanta, where a TSA screener worked that tested positive for the coronavirus. The screening officer last worked at the Atlanta airport in the international terminal on the morning of March 7. Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com

February 28, 2020 - Atlanta - Governor Brian Kemp addressed the newly formed Governor's Coronavirus Task Force. Bob Andres / robert.andres@ajc.com

Members of the 265th Infectious Control GA Army National Guard enters the Canterbury Court, a senior living facility in Buckhead. Gov. Brian Kemp has sent guard members to disinfect many long-term-care facilities, even those with no coronavirus outbreaks, as a preventative measure. STEVE SCHAEFER / SPECIAL TO THE AJCs.

Members of the 265th Infectious Control GA Army National Guard enters the Canterbury Court, a senior living facility in Buckhead, to clean the building Friday, April 10, 2020. Gov. Brian Kemp has sent guard members to disinfect many long-term-care facilities, even those with no coronavirus outbreaks, as a preventative measure. STEVE SCHAEFER / SPECIAL TO THE AJCs.

April 3, 2020 DeKalb County: Sam's Club workers sanitized shopping carts as customers lined up over the length of a football field at Samâs Club located at 2901 Clairmont Rd in DeKalb County on Friday, April3, 2020. Chamblee police had an officer on site to monitor the crowd which was being let into the store in lower numbers to retain social distancing. The novel coronavirus is maintaining a firm grip on Georgia as state health officials on Friday reported 387 new cases and a growing death toll. The latest data from the Georgia Department of Public Health shows 5,831 confirmed cases, an increase of about 7% from the 5,444 cases reported Thursday night. Eight more Georgians have died as a result of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, bringing the stateâs total to 184. The youngest victim in Georgia was an 11-year-old DeKalb County boy with an underlying health condition, according to officials. Since Thursday night, commercial and state laboratories have conducted 2,308 new tests. Of those who have tested positive since the beginning of the outbreak, 1,158 are in hospitals, according to the health department. Those numbers are predicted to grow even further in coming weeks as plans are put into place to increase daily testing capacity. Scientific projections suggest the state will see thousands of new cases and hundreds of additional deaths before the virus is contained, AJC.com previously reported. Growing concerns about the worsening COVID-19 outbreak prompted Gov. Brian Kemp to issue a statewide stay-at-home order. The executive order will go into effect at 6 p.m. Friday and will last through at least April 13. JOHN SPINK/JSPINK@AJC.COM

Molecular Biologist Leah Roberts gets a delivery of COVID-19 samples from a local practice ready for testing at Ipsum Diagnostics labratory on Monday, March 23, 2020. (John Amis)

March 24, 2020 Albany - A nurse checks a temperature of an employee before he enters the Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany on Tuesday, March 24, 2020. Well off the interstate some 180 miles south-southwest of Atlanta, Albany's struggles with the Coronavirus stick out like a sore thumb on the state's map, as small towns in the region like Americus and Sylvester reported their first cases of the virus on Friday. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

March 24, 2020 Albany - A medical worker helps a potential COVID-19 patient with paperworks at a Phoebe Putney Health System drive-through testing site in Albany on Tuesday, March 24, 2020. Well off the interstate some 180 miles south-southwest of Atlanta, Albany's struggles with the Coronavirus stick out like a sore thumb on the state's map, as small towns in the region like Americus and Sylvester reported their first cases of the virus on Friday. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

April 1, 2020 Atlanta: A doctor resident walks past the detour curtains at Grady hospital which is going under repairs after a December flood. As of Wednesday, April 1, 2020, Grady Memorial Hospital has two mobile medical units. One was brought in to handle overflow related to the flu and the other unit added capacity after the flood they experienced in December which forced Grady to close several floors. Other hospitals around the state may get similar units in the coming days to help handle coronavirus patients. The state of Georgia has ordered âÃÃºmedical podsâÃÃ¹ that are like a regular hospital and can have up to 25 beds. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Georgia has more than doubled in the past five days, from just over 2,000 cases Friday to more than 4,500 Wednesday. There are now at least 4,638 cases and 139 deaths statewide, according to the latest data from the Georgia Department of Public Health. Fourteen more Georgians have died since Tuesday night as a result of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Georgia has more than doubled in the past five days, from just over 2,000 cases Friday to more than 4,500 Wednesday. There are now at least 4,638 cases and 139 deaths statewide, according to the latest data from the Georgia Department of Public Health. Fourteen more Georgians have died since Tuesday night as a result of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. The count increased about 35% between Monday and Tuesday, and the latest figures represent an increase of about 13% Wednesday. Additional growth is expected when the Department of Public Health releases its next update at 7 p.m. Of those who have tested positive for COVID-19, 952 are hospitalized Wednesday, according to the health department. JOHN SPINK/JSPINK@AJC.COM

March 24, 2020 Atlanta: Pharmacy tech, Mackensi Scott (left) gets a store time for customer, Anne McCullough (right) at Tuxedo Pharmacy at 164 W Wieuca Rd NE, in Atlanta on Tuesday, March 24, 2020. The pharmacy has been in business since 1981 and is now providing a drive thru pick up with prescriptions and other store items by their team of masked employees with gloves. Their delivery service have tripled and the biggest seller since COVID-19 began is thermometers. JOHN SPINK/JSPINK@AJC.COM

04/01/2020 - Atlanta, Georgia - Gov. Brian Kemp uses hand sanitizer to clean his hands during a press conference at Liberty Plaza, across the street from the Georgia State Capitol building, in downtown Atlanta, Wednesday, April 1, 2020. During the presser, Gov. Kemp ordered all Georgia K-12 schools to be closed until the end of the academic school year. He also said he will sign an order on Thursday forcing a "Stay-at-home" order for all Georgians until April 13. (ALYSSA POINTER / ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM)

March 24, 2020 Albany - From left, Steven Kitchen, chief medical officer at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, Charles Ruis, district health director at DPH, Dougherty County Coroner Michael Fowler, and Dougherty County EMS Director Sam Allen confer after a press conference to provide a Coronavirus update at Albany Government Center in Albany on Tuesday, March 24, 2020. Well off the interstate some 180 miles south-southwest of Atlanta, Albany's struggles with the Coronavirus stick out like a sore thumb on the state's map, as small towns in the region like Americus and Sylvester reported their first cases of the virus on Friday. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

200415-Tucker- A Walmart employee wearing gloves and a mask lets a limited number of customers into a Tucker store Wednesday afternoon April 15, 2020. Ben@BenGray.com for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

March 27, 2020 Atlanta: Grady Advanced EMT, Emma Hovis prepares for another patient call on Monday, March 30, 2020. First responders at Grady Hospital are on the frontline of the COVID-19 epidemic taking precautions on each call. For the third day in a row, the number of new coronavirus cases has slowed significantly in Georgia, even as deaths continue to climb. There are now at least 2,809 confirmed cases of the virus statewide, according to the latest data released Monday by the Georgia Department of Public Health. The latest figures are an increase of less than 5% from SundayâÃÃ´s cases, much less than the average daily growth the state saw last week. Eighty-seven Georgians have died from COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel virus, up from 83 reported on Sunday. Less than one-third of those infected are hospitalized. JOHN SPINK/JSPINK@AJC.COM

April 7, 2020 Atlanta: Medical personnel are wearing masks outside Emory School of Medicine across the street from Grady Hospital in downtown Atlanta on Tuesday, April 7, 2020. For the second day in a row, the number of deaths from the coronavirus in Georgia has risen sharply. Thirty-five more Georgians have died since Monday night, according to the latest data from the Georgia Department of Public Health. Those deaths follow the 75 reported Monday to contribute to a statewide total of 329 deaths from COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel virus. As of Tuesday, there are 8,818 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state, an increase of more than 1,000, or about 17%, from the figures health officials reported the night before. Of those who have tested positive, 1,774 are hospitalized Tuesday, officials said. Additional growth in number of cases, deaths and hospitalizations is expected when the Department of Public Health releases its next update at 7 p.m. Health officials say the number of infections still does not adequately reflect the severity of the coronavirus crisis in Georgia, as a limited supply of tests remain rationed for the most vulnerable. A partnership between universities and state agencies announced last week could improve testing capabilities, although it is unclear when tests might be made widely available to the public. Since Monday night, commercial and state laboratories have conducted 2,439 additional tests for a total of nearly 34,000 conducted since the outbreak began. With increased testing and rapid spread of the virus, numbers are expected to surge in the coming weeks. One widely cited model by the University of WashingtonâÃÃ´s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation predicts that GeorgiaâÃÃ´s daily death toll could peak April 21. By then, the model shows an additional 1,500 Georgians could die from COVID-19. JOHN SPINK/JSPINK@AJC.COM

April 7, 2020 Atlanta: Grady hospital medical personnel arrive for work on Tuesday, April 7, 2020. For the second day in a row, the number of deaths from the coronavirus in Georgia has risen sharply. Thirty-five more Georgians have died since Monday night, according to the latest data from the Georgia Department of Public Health. Those deaths follow the 75 reported Monday to contribute to a statewide total of 329 deaths from COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel virus. As of Tuesday, there are 8,818 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state, an increase of more than 1,000, or about 17%, from the figures health officials reported the night before. Of those who have tested positive, 1,774 are hospitalized Tuesday, officials said. Additional growth in number of cases, deaths and hospitalizations is expected when the Department of Public Health releases its next update at 7 p.m. Health officials say the number of infections still does not adequately reflect the severity of the coronavirus crisis in Georgia, as a limited supply of tests remain rationed for the most vulnerable. A partnership between universities and state agencies announced last week could improve testing capabilities, although it is unclear when tests might be made widely available to the public. Since Monday night, commercial and state laboratories have conducted 2,439 additional tests for a total of nearly 34,000 conducted since the outbreak began. With increased testing and rapid spread of the virus, numbers are expected to surge in the coming weeks. One widely cited model by the University of WashingtonâÃÃ´s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation predicts that GeorgiaâÃÃ´s daily death toll could peak April 21. By then, the model shows an additional 1,500 Georgians could die from COVID-19. JOHN SPINK/JSPINK@AJC.COM

March12, 2020 Atlanta - Dr. Kathleen Toomey, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Health, speaks during a press conference to provide an update on the state's efforts regarding COVID-19, after reporting the first death in Georgia related to coronavirus at the Georgia State Capitol on Thursday, March 11, 2020. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

March 26, 2020 Atlanta - Gov. Brian Kemp speaks during a town hall meeting to discuss the growing coronavirus pandemic that airs live on WSB-TV Channel 2, CBS46, Georgia Public Broadcasting, 11 Alive, FOX 5 Atlanta and Univision 34 Atlanta at WSB-TV Channel 2 on Thursday night, March 26, 2020. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

April 7, 2020 Atlanta: Grady Ambulance crews arrive wearing masks at the hospital with patients on Tuesday, April 7, 2020 For the second day in a row, the number of deaths from the coronavirus in Georgia has risen sharply. Thirty-five more Georgians have died since Monday night, according to the latest data from the Georgia Department of Public Health. Those deaths follow the 75 reported Monday to contribute to a statewide total of 329 deaths from COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel virus. As of Tuesday, there are 8,818 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state, an increase of more than 1,000, or about 17%, from the figures health officials reported the night before. Of those who have tested positive, 1,774 are hospitalized Tuesday, officials said. Additional growth in number of cases, deaths and hospitalizations is expected when the Department of Public Health releases its next update at 7 p.m. Health officials say the number of infections still does not adequately reflect the severity of the coronavirus crisis in Georgia, as a limited supply of tests remain rationed for the most vulnerable. A partnership between universities and state agencies announced last week could improve testing capabilities, although it is unclear when tests might be made widely available to the public. Since Monday night, commercial and state laboratories have conducted 2,439 additional tests for a total of nearly 34,000 conducted since the outbreak began. With increased testing and rapid spread of the virus, numbers are expected to surge in the coming weeks. One widely cited model by the University of WashingtonâÃÃ´s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation predicts that GeorgiaâÃÃ´s daily death toll could peak April 21. By then, the model shows an additional 1,500 Georgians could die from COVID-19. JOHN SPINK/JSPINK@AJC.COM

April 16, 2020 Conyers: Emory Hospital RN Aisha Bennett goes over information with a man and woman before taking nasal swabs at a pilot large scale drive-through COVID-19 testing site in the Georgia International Horse Park on Thursday, April 16, 2020, in Conyers. Testing is by appointment only and open to anyone in the general public who believes they are ill with COVID-19. According to Chad Wasdin, communications director for the Gwinnett Rockdale Newton Health Departments, due to increased testing capacity 400 appointments are scheduled for anyone who thinks they may be ill with the virus. While the Health Department requires a scheduled appointment to test individuals, referral from a doctor is not necessary. There is no charge for the testing, and those tested do not need to provide health insurance information. âWe look forward to piloting this large-scale test site,â said Dr. Audrey Arona, district health director and CEO of Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale County Health Departments. âThis is a fantastic collaboration between Rockdale and Newton county governments, their EMAs, and the Health Department. Testing will provide individuals in the community an opportunity to learn if their illness is consistent with the COVID-19 virus, and it will help us improve our plans for providing large-scale testing.
Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com

Georgia Tech has Covid-19 testing taking place in the campus' North Campus parking deck for those who have an appointment with CVS on Tuesday, April 14, 2020. The entrance to the testing is located at 10th Street and State Street where several university police, including Georgia State Police Officer Brooks, center, Georgia Tech Police and Kennesaw State Police are managing traffic flow, ID and appointment verification as well as keeping people in their cars with windows up throughout the process. (Jenni Girtman for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

April 8, 2020 Athens: Wheelchairs are stacked up outside PruittHealth Grandview nursing home where at least 10 patients who were previously tested presumptive positive for COVID-19 have passed away on Wednesday, April 8, 2020, in Athens. The facility continues to operate at an alert code red status following enhanced infectious disease protocol despite the deaths.. Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com

Instacart driver loads her car after picking up groceries from Publix for her clients Sunday, March 29, 2020. She said needs the work and was not going to strike. STEVE SCHAEFER / SPECIAL TO THE AJC

April 2, 2020 Atlanta: Grady Paramedic field training supervisor, Christy Wheeler (left) and Advanced EMT, Laquandrea Hollingsworth (right) finish a patient transport at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta - Hughes Spalding Hospital at 35 Jesse Hill Jr Dr SE in Atlanta on Thursday, April 2, 2020. First responders are on the frontline as Georgiaâs coronavirus cases surpassed 5,000 Thursday, and the number of deaths across the state continue to grow. The latest data from the Georgia Department of Public Health shows 5,348 confirmed cases, an increase of about 13% from the 4,748 cases reported Wednesday night. Nine more Georgians have died as a result of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, bringing the stateâs death toll to 163. Wednesday night. Of all that have tested positive since the outbreak began, 1,056 are hospitalized Thursday, according to the health department. Amid predictions of a steep increase in cases and with plans in place to increase daily testing capacity, officials say those numbers could balloon in the coming weeks. Scientific projections suggest the state will see thousands of new cases and hundreds of additional deaths before the virus is contained. JOHN SPINK/JSPINK@AJC.COM

A Wellstar employee wears a keep calm save lives shirt manning the entrance to the mobile surge unit, a temporary extension of the emergency department at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital. The expansion is being used to treat the surge of patients visiting the emergency room on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Marietta.. Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com

Northside Hospital technician Mamie Johnson prepares for patients in the newly constructed tents outside of the hospitals' Emergency Department entrance Monday, March 30, 2020. STEVE SCHAEFER / SPECIAL TO THE AJC

200415-Tucker- A Walmart employee wearing gloves and a mask lets a limited number of customers into a Tucker store Wednesday afternoon April 15, 2020. Ben@BenGray.com for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

200408-Atlanta-Gov. Brian Kemp gives remarks and answers questions during a press conference Wednesday afternoon April 8, 2020 at the Georgia State Capitol. Ben@BenGray.com for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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Molecular Biologist Leah Roberts gets a delivery of COVID-19 samples from a local practice ready for testing at Ipsum Diagnostics laboratory on Monday, March 23, 2020. (John Amis for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

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