TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — Tallahassee and Valdosta are among the COVID-19 'red zones' in Florida and Georgia that have had the highest number of new cases in the last three weeks, according to an unpublished report that was obtained by the nonprofit newsroom Center for Public Integrity.
The 359-page document was prepared for the White House Coronavirus Task Force and recommends that 18 states consider rolling back reopening.
Florida and Georgia were among the 18 states.
Both the Tallahassee area and the Valdsota area were identified in the report as being among the top 12 'red zones' for each state. That means the cities have had more than 100 new cases per 100,000 population last week, and have had more than 10 percent test positivity in the last week.
According to the report, Florida had 308 new cases per 100,000 population in the past week, compared to a national average of 119 per 100,000.
Among the recommendations listed in the report to reduce spread is a statewide mask mandate, keeping bars closed, reducing indoor restaurant dining capacity to 25 percent, and limiting social gatherings to 10 or fewer people.
In Georgia, the report said the state had 202 new cases per 100,000 population in the past week, compared to a national average of 119 per 100,000.
The report also recommended a statewide mask mandate for Georgia as well as the closure of bars, strict social distancing within restaurants, the closure of gyms, and limiting gatherings to 10 or fewer people.
To read more of the report, click here.
