Time-varying reproduction numbers of COVID-19 in Georgia, USA, March 2-June 14, 2020

ABSTRACT In 2020, SARS-CoV-2 impacted Georgia, USA. Georgia announced state-wide shelter-in-place on April 2 and partially lifted restrictions on April 27. We analyzed daily incidence of confirmed COVID-19 cases by reporting date, March 2-June 14, in Georgia, Metro Atlanta, and Dougherty County and estimate the time-varying reproduction number, R t , using R package EpiEstim. The median R t estimate in Georgia dropped from between 2 and 4 in mid-March, to <2 in late March, and around 1 from mid-April to mid-June. Regarding Metro Atlanta, R t fluctuated above 1.5 in March and around 1 since April. In Dougherty County, the median R t declined from around 2 in late March to 0.32 on April 26. In Spring 2020, SARS-CoV-2 transmission in Georgia declined likely because of social distancing measures. However, as restrictions were relaxed in late April, community transmission continued with R t fluctuating around 1 across Georgia, Metro Atlanta, and Dougherty County as of mid-June.