Tuesday, March 17 Update

Video Message from Mayor Kelly Girtz

March 17, 2020 - Watch a video message from Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz about the local response to coronavirus COVID-19 and the recent Mayor and Commission declaration of a local emergency.

Mayor & Commission Approves Voluntary Shelter in Place Policy & Prohibition on Assemblages, Events & Gatherings of 10 or More People in Restaurants, Bars, Entertainment Establishments or ACCGov facilities or on Public Property

The Mayor and Commission held an Emergency Special Called Meeting Pursuant to OCGA 50-14-1(d)(3) on Monday, March 16 at 5:00 p.m.

The purpose of the meeting was to consider adoption of an amendment to Chapter 3-4 of the Code of Ordinances of the Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County with respect to Emergency Management; adoption of a Declaration of a Local Emergency; and any other item in proper order.

In summary, the Mayor and Commission passed an ordinance with two key provisions, among others:

A voluntary shelter in place policy requesting that individuals not loiter, wander, stroll, or play in any public place within the territorial limits of Athens-Clarke County (with some exceptions) that began at 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17 and concludes at 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 7 unless otherwise extended.
A prohibition on all public assemblages, events, and gatherings within the territorial limits of the Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia of ten (10) or more people, not including employees, in restaurants, bars, and/or entertainment establishments or in facilities owned by the Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia or on public property. This began at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, and concludes at 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 7, 2020, unless otherwise extended.

Read the full ordinance

ACCGov Closed Workstations for Non-Emergency Staff Through Sat., March 21

In response to the rapidly changing situation with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), all Athens-Clarke County Unified Government (ACCGov) department and office non-essential workstations will be closed through Saturday, March 21.

Non-emergency ACCGov staff will not report to work, although some may telecommute during the closures. ACCGov will continue to provide essential emergency services such as public safety, emergency response, certain judicial functions, trash collection, and water and sewer services. Most ACCGov services, programs, and offices will be closed during this time.

More details will be provided on www.accgov.com/coronavirus or on department pages on department-specific plans.

Residents are encouraged to visit www.accgov.com instead of visiting ACCGov offices to see what services, if any, will be provided.

Information on ACCGov’s COVID-19 responses and resources will continue to be provided through www.accgov.com/coronavirus, social media, and a subscribeable email and text newsletter available at the website.

Additional COVID-19 Information in Athens-Clarke County

March 17, 2020
From the Georgia Department of Public Health

The Georgia Department of Public Health has confirmed an additional positive case of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Athens-Clarke County, bringing the total number of cases to 3. The Northeast Health District Epidemiology team is working to identify and notify any close contacts who may have been exposed to COVID-19.

None of the individuals were hospitalized, and are all currently self-isolating at home and are not considered high risk patients. The first two cases over the weekend have no history of travel. Today’s case recently traveled between states. This new case is unrelated to the first two positive cases, and there is no epidemiological link between the three.

As cases increase, the Northeast Health District will no longer be releasing information for
each individual case. Instead, please refer to the state DPH case tracker: https://dph.georgia.gov/covid-19-daily-status-report. All recommended guidance is the same.

In response to an increased need for COVID-19 testing, the Northeast Health District is currently conducting testing by referral. If you believe you are experiencing symptoms, please contact your primary care provider or dial 706-340-0996 between the hours of 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM to contact a local DPH nurse.

Be sure to call before going to a doctor’s office, emergency room, or urgent care center and tell them about your recent travel and your symptoms.

ACCGov Service Updates Related to Closed Workstations

Here are some updates since the most recent email on Monday, March 16 that are still relevant in light of the closure of workstations until Sat., March 21 (see www.accgov.com/coronavirus for the full list and updates to services).

As of Monday, March 17 at 11:58 p.m.:

All Departments

Closed workstations through Sat., March 21. Non-emergency staff will not report to work during this time, although some may telecommute during the closures. ACCGov will continue to provide essential emergency services such as public safety, emergency response, certain judicial functions, trash collection, and water and sewer services.
Most ACCGov services, programs, and offices will be closed during this time.

Leisure Services

In addition to all Leisure Services buildings, all parks and trails are closed.

Mayor and Commission

Residents will be able to watch the March 19 Special Called Session at 6:00 p.m. online via YouTube at www.youtube.com/accgov or the YouTube app, via www.accgov.com/videos, via Facebook at www.facebook.com/accgov, or on ACTV Cable Channel 180. Comments will need to be submitted online through the Comment Form at www.accgov.com/agendas by 5:45 p.m. or written out outside the room and provided to the Mayor and Commission to be read into the record instead of given at the podium.
The agenda and Comment Form will be available at www.accgov.com/agendas.

Tax Commissioner

The Tag Office and Property Tax Office will be closed to the public through Friday, March 20. Decisions are still being made for additional closing times. Limited staff will answer phone calls for the remainder of this week (March 17-20).

Transit

Transit services will be reduced beginning March 18 to Weekend Day service level of 9 routes, provided with 8 buses. This is the same fixed-route service level provided every Saturday or Sunday. This level of transit service will provide on-street public transit from approximately 7:30 a.m. until 9:45 p.m. daily.
Lift Demand Response services will operate on an medically essential need only basis, no other demand response services will be offered.
All Transit services will be offered “Fare Free”.
A one round trip rule will be instituted to prohibit continual riding of the buses. Riders will be required to either debark at the Multimodal Transportation Center, the end of the line, or somewhere along the route, each hour or trip. Passengers will not be allowed to transfer from one bus to another and ride continuously throughout the day.
All fixed-route services will be operated “Rear door boarding and debarking” only.
“Do Not Cross Barriers” will be placed approximately 10 feet behind the drivers compartment to promote social distancing between bus operators and passengers.
A “No Unaccompanied Youth/ Riders under 18 without a parent or guardian” policy will be instituted.
The Multimodal Transportation Center and Transit Maintenance and Operations Facility will be closed to the public.

Information Sources

The response to COVID-19 involves both rapid and extensive changes and also deliberate measures that take some time to consider.

Once official information is released from the Georgia Department of Public Health, the Northeast Georgia Health District, the State of Georgia government, or other local partners, we will report it on www.accgov.com/coronavirus and social media.

Additionally, this COVID-19 update newsletter will go out at least daily with new information primarily about the ACCGov response and plans. It may also include some local area information of note as space allows.