COVINGTON, Ga. — After just three days, the total number of COVID-19 cases in Georgia has doubled.

Wednesday’s 7 p.m. status update from the Georgia Department of Public Health showed one new case involving a Newton County residents. The state is up to 1,387 confirmed cases of the virus and 47 deaths.

The total number of cases in the state has jumped dramatically since Sunday evening when the DPH reported 620 cases and 25 deaths.

State officials said the large increase of cases over the past two days is in part a reflection on an improvement in electronic reporting efficiency from commercial laboratories, which often have sparse patient data.

DPH is working to complete the records.

Out of 6,179 total tests, 1,482 were done at the GDPH lap with 215 testing positive. At commercial labs, 1,172 of the 4,697 tests have returned positive for COVID-19.

The state said 96% of cases involve patients 18 and older, but just 36% of the cases are in patients over 60.

DHP has also started to keep track of the number of hospitalizations due to the virus. As of 7p.m. Wednesday, 438 people were hospitalized due to COVID-19.

Of the surrounding counties, Gwinnett has the most confirmed cases at 69 followed by Henry with 20, Rockdale with 10, Butts at three, Jasper with two and Morgan County with one.

Walton County registered one case on Tuesday, but the DPH did not show a confirmed case in Walton at of 7 p.m. Wednesday. Walton had gone more than a week through daily, and later twice-daily, updates on COVID-19 tests before getting a positive diagnosis in a resident.

Fulton County, the site of the first confirmed case in Georgia, still has the most confirmed cases at 204. Cobb County (109), Dekalb (125), Dougherty (123) and Bartow (82) all have over 70 confirmed cases.

Gov. Brian Kemp on Monday issued an executive order requiring Georgians who are at risk of contracting the virus to stay home. He ordered bars and nightclubs closed and prohibited gatherings of 10 or more people.