The cities of Atlanta and Sandy Springs together saw 336 new COVID-19 diagnoses between July 29 and July 31 update reports from the Fulton County Board of Health.

The number of cases increased in all of the main local ZIP codes. The 14-day trend declined in both cities and in all but one of the local ZIP codes.

A chart of COVID-19 diagnoses by city in Fulton County as shown in a July 31 Board of Health report.

As of July 31, the part of Atlanta within Fulton County had 7,964 COVID-19 diagnoses, up from 7,705 on July 29. Sandy Springs had 1,533 diagnoses, up from 1,456.

Atlanta remains the number one city in the county for COVID-19 diagnoses at 45.2% of the total, and Sandy Springs remained third with 8.7% of the total.

The 14-day trend in new COVID-19 in each city is charted in the report, calculated by comparing the 14 days preceding the previous seven days with the 14-day period before that. In Atlanta, the 14-day trend was down by 38.4% and in Sandy Springs the 14-day trend was down by 18.4%.

To view the full reports, see the county website here.

The report does not state whether the numbers reflect the coronavirus’s spread, the state of testing, or both.

The statistics, which are based on patients’ home addresses, are not completely accurate due to such factors as a large number of patients whose cities or ZIP codes are unknown. Of those diagnosed, their ZIP code was unknown in 718 cases and their home city was unknown in 2,015 cases. All numbers are preliminary and may be adjusted later, including through “data cleaning” — the reassignment of some cases to a different ZIP code or city after further analysis.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 diagnoses in the county as of July 31 was 17,634. Of those, 389 are reported as having died. About 9.9% of patients were hospitalized and about 2.2% died. Countywide, residents and staff of long-term care facilities account for about 9.4% of diagnoses and 49.6% of deaths.

The number of total diagnosed cases in the main ZIP codes in Buckhead and Sandy Springs between the July 29 and July 31 reports were as follows. The percentage change in the 14-day trend declined signficantly in all of the ZIP codes except for 30350, which was up 34.5%.

Buckhead ZIP codes

30305: Total: 511 (up from 499)

30326: Total: 146 (up from 142)

Sandy Springs ZIP codes

30328: Total: 492 (up from 464)

30350: Total: 351 (up from 335)

Buckhead and Sandy Springs combined ZIP codes

30327: Total: 317 (up from 314)

30342: Total: 771 (up from 731)

John Ruch is an Atlanta-based journalist. Previously, he was Managing Editor of Reporter Newspapers.