CAIRO — Local officials are hoping that the spread of the novel coronavirus is beginning to slow down after no new cases of the virus were positively identified in Grady County over the weekend, according to the Grady County Health Department.

Health Department director Michelle Thornton stated Friday afternoon that Grady County had 93 known cases of COVID-19, with four deaths attributed to the virus, and those numbers remain unchanged as of Monday morning. That came after a small but steady increase of newly identified cases over the course of last week, which began with 89 cases last Monday.

“The county hopes to see a leveling off of cases,” said County Administrator Buddy Johnson, “however, that will be determined by stats from the (Georgia Department of Public Health) based on testing results, recovered cases versus pending cases, hospitalization numbers and deaths.”

Johnson said, however, that residents should remain vigilant when in public.

“We strongly recommend the continued conscious thought of social distancing and wearing masks in locations where the population of people is over 10 at the time,” the county administrator said. “We urge businesses to sanitize and clean constantly and put measures in place to slow the chances of spreading viruses.”

Meanwhile, additional COVID-19 specimen collection tests are scheduled to take place in Grady County this week.

Testing is open by appointment to anyone who wishes to be tested this Tuesday and Thursday between 8 a.m. and 12 noon and Saturday from 9-11a.m. Patients will drive up to the testing location and remain in their vehicles as the test is taken.

The test itself takes about five minutes to complete. Thornton has said that the tests are not painful.

Anyone who wishes to be tested can call (229) 352-6567 or (229) 377-2992 to schedule an appointment. Patients also are asked to bring an ID to their testing location.