Message from Mayor Kelly Girtz - May 12

A new message from Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz with some updates on local responses from ACCGov, details on the virtual Community Conversation on Wed., May 13 at 6:00 p.m. with Leisure Services Director Kent Kilpatrick and staff from the Transit Department, information about some federal level initiatives, and encouragement to continue to practice other safe behaviors.

The video is available through the link on the image above and

on YouTube (www.youtube.com/accgov or directly at https://youtu.be/2gmEoOCINww)
the YouTube app on mobile devices or TV systems by searching for 'accgov';
on Facebook (www.facebook.com/accgov);
on Twitter (www.twitter.com/accgov)
on Instagram via IGTV (www.instagram.com/accgov)
on ACTV cable channel 180.

Governor's Executive Order - May 12

The 30-page May 12 Executive Order from Governor provides updated information about shelter-in-place and business requirements until the end of the month. Read a PDF of the order.

Some brief notes about the new order:

Provisions in the order are effective May 14-31 unless otherwise specified.
Bars, nightclubs, operators of amusement park rides, and live performance venues will remain closed through May 31.
Those who are higher risk of severe illness as defined in the order are required to Shelter-in-Place within homes or residences through June 12.
Restaurants and dining services are allowed no more than 10 patrons per 300 square feet and are required to implement 39 different measures.
Critical Infrastructure shall implement measures to mitigate exposure and spread of COVID-19, which may include 17 measures in the order.
Businesses, establishments, corporations, non-profit corporations, or organizations, including those that continue in-person operations that are not Critical Infrastructure, shall implement 22 measures to help prevent the exposure and spread of COVID-19 and should implement 3 additional measures, if practicable.
- Food establishments shall also implement 6 additional measures to the 22 measures for businesses above, as well as some additional measures, which may include any or all of 13 measures mentioned in the order.
- Gyms and fitness centers shall also implement 19 additional measures to the 22 measures mentioned above.
- Body art studios, estheticians, hair designers, persons licensed to practice massage therapy, and tanning facilities shall also implement an additional 13 measures to the 22 measures mentioned above.
- Indoor movie theatres and cinemas shall also implement 8 additional measures to the 22 measures mentioned above.
- Bowling alleys shall also implement 11 additional measures to the 22 measures mentioned above.
Persons working outdoors without regular contact with other persons, such as delivery services, contractors, landscape businesses, and agricultural industry services shall only be required to practice social distancing and implement sanitation processes in the guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).
Guidelines for healthcare industry, including dental practices and clinics, licensed optometrists, licensed opticians, and ambulatory surgical centers are referenced in the order.
Child care learning centers and family child learning homes under the jurisdiction of the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) are allowed 20 persons to gather if keeping with DECAL staff-child ratios and shall also implement an additional 13 measures to the 22 measures for businesses mentioned above.
Summer camps shall also implement an additional 33 measures to the 22 mentioned above. Summer camps cannot host campers overnight until authorized by the Georgia Department of Public Health.

While the statewide order is in effect, all local ordinances that are more restrictive or less restrictive than the statewide order are suspended.

A PDF of the full 30-page order is available at www.accgov.com/coronavirus (or directly at https://www.accgov.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=3927).

189 Positive Cases Confirmed in Athens-Clarke County, 13 Deaths

The state Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) case tracker (https://dph.georgia.gov/covid-19-daily-status-report) confirms 189 positive cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Athens-Clarke County with 13 deaths as of 7:00 p.m. on May 12.

Beginning May 11, the Daily Status Report is updated three times a day at 9:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. This change will enable more consistent reporting while still providing timely and actionable data.

The case tracker has recently been updated to a new format and provides additional county-level information, including the number of cases per 100,000 people (145.60 for Athens-Clarke County).

If you view the data, however, please be sure to check the area showing the definitions of the information presented. Some have different meanings than what you may expect.

The 13 deaths range in age from 60-98. Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes are at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 and should always consult their healthcare provider if they are sick.

Backyard cookout with friends? Not right now.

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 most days with new information primarily about the ACCGov response and plans. It may also include some local area information of note as space allows.