The 14-day rate of new COVID-19 diagnoses for periods ending March 16 declined in Atlanta and Sandy Springs, according to a March 23 report from the Fulton County Board of Health.

The 14-day rate varied in the main local ZIP codes, falling in most, but rising in two.

A chart of COVID-19 diagnoses by city in Fulton County as shown in a March 23 Board of Health report.

The report’s format focuses on comparing new diagnoses in a recent 14-day period with the preceding 14 days. 

Atlanta remained the number one city in the county for new COVID-19 diagnoses in the previous 14 days, with 754, a 15.5% decrease. Sandy Springs remained in second place with 175 new diagnoses, a 7.4% decrease.

To view the full report, 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 in the most recent 14-day period, their ZIP code was unknown in 22 cases and their home city was unknown in 56 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 March 23 was 77,317. The countywide confirmed death total from the pandemic was 1,153. A total of 129 fatalities were being reviewed by the Georgia Department of Public Health to confirm the cause of death.

The number of new diagnosed cases and the 14-day trend in the main ZIP codes in Buckhead and Sandy Springs in the March 23 report was as follows. 

Buckhead ZIP codes

30305: 53, down 15.2%

30326: fewer than 10, down 33.3%

Sandy Springs ZIP codes

30328: 64, up 10.3%

30350: 54, down 22.9%

Buckhead and Sandy Springs combined ZIP codes

30327: 48, up  9.1%

30342: 75, down 7.4%

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