Wednesday, April 15 Update

Statewide Shelter-in-Place Order Guidelines

ACCG, a nonprofit instrumentality of all 159 of Georgia’s county governments, has produced updated information on the statewide shelter-in-place order from Governor Kemp that is currently in place until April 30.

The document highlights information and provides details in several areas:

• People are required to stay at their home or residence
• People are not allowed to have visitors in their home or visit others
• People may leave home for essential services, but these are narrowly defined
• Exceptions to leave the home for work
• Necessary travel

COVID-19 Screening Hotline Extends Days/Hours

The Northeast Health District COVID-19 Screening Hotline (706-340-0996) has extended its hours and days. The new hours and days are:

• Monday - Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
  
• Saturday: 8:30 a.m. - Noon

Expanded Testing for COVID-19 in Georgia

The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is increasing the number of specimen collection sites statewide for COVID-19 testing, and is revising the current testing criteria to accommodate more testing of Georgia residents.

Effective immediately, all symptomatic individuals will be eligible for COVID-19 testing. Health care workers, first responders, law enforcement and long-term care facility residents and staff will still be prioritized for testing regardless of whether they are or are not symptomatic.

Referrals are still required, however, there are now two ways to be referred to a DPH specimen collection site:

• Local Health Department
  706-340-0996 (Northeast Health District 10 for Athens area)
  Monday - Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
  Saturday: 8:30 a.m. - Noon
  Individuals who meet COVID-19 testing criteria may now be referred to DPH specimen collection sites by contacting their local health department. They will be screened by appropriate health department staff and referred to the closest, most convenient specimen collection site.
  
  
• Health Care Provider Referral
  Health care providers and/or physicians can and should continue to refer patients for COVID-19 testing.

People should not arrive unannounced or without a scheduled appointment at a specimen collection site, hospital, emergency room or other health care facility. Only individuals who have been evaluated by public health or a health care provider and assigned a PUI # number will be referred to these drive-thru sites.

102 Positive Cases Confirmed in Athens-Clarke County, 12 Deaths

The state Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) case tracker (https://dph.georgia.gov/covid-19-daily-status-report) confirms 102 positive cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Athens-Clarke County with 12 deaths as of 6:28 p.m. on April 15.

The 12 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.

Long-term care facilities, nursing homes, and congregate living settings for older people must strictly follow COVID-19 prevention measures to stop rapid spread of the virus.

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.