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VALDOSTA â South Health District officials warned area residents Wednesday that COVID-19 cases are on the rise while urging people to get the vaccine.
Within the 10 counties that South Health District serves â Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Cook, Echols, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Tift and Turner, 693 new cases were reported from July 21-28, more than doubling the previous seven days, July 15-22, when 275 new cases were reported, health officials said in a statement. Vaccination continues to be the most important step that individuals can take to protect themselves and others from COVID-19 as well as the new COVID-19 variants, according to the statement. Data has shown that vaccinations currently available under the Food and Drug Administrationâs Emergency Use Authorization do offer some protection against the new variants.