NEWS BRIEF: Atlanta area hit by soaring omicron infections

Coronavirus cases rising, hospitals overwhelmed … again

Georgia’s Public Health Department says the seven-day average of COVID-19 cases in the state rose to nearly 8,700 a day on Monday, and the number of patients hospitalized with the omicron variant is rising rapidly, especially in the Atlanta area. Emory, Piedmont and Northside hospitals are among 21 local emergency rooms that were turning away ambulances as of Monday evening, with only 10 locations caring for adults after accepting them, according to state data. apnews.com