Thursday, April 23 Update

New Governor's Order Released on April 23 for May 1-13 & Some Earlier Dates for Certain Provisions

The Governor's Office released a 26-page order earlier this evening with new details for shelter-in-place provisions from May 1-13 and for some earlier dates for certain businesses and provisions to re-open.

Some of the areas covered include:

General Provisions
Definitions
Sheltering in Place
Restaurants & Dining Services
Industry, Commerce, Organizations & Non-Profits
- Critical Infrastructure and not Critical Infrastructure
- Public swimming pools, performance venues, operators of amusement rides and bars
- Retail businesses, including food establishments such as retail and wholesale grocery stores
- Gyms and fitness centers
- Beauty shops, beauty salons, barber shops, schools of cosmetology, schools of hair design, schools of esthetics, schools of nail care, and schools of barbering, home beauty shops, beauty salons, barber shops, body art studios, estheticians, hair designers, persons licensed to practice massage therapy, tanning facilities
- Indoor movie theatres and cinemas
- Bowling alleys
- Persons working outdoors without regular contact with other persons, such as delivery services, contractors, landscape businesses, and agricultural industry services
Healthcare
Education & Children
County and Municipal Governments
Drivers' Services
Enforcement
Miscellaneous

The order suspends any local ordinances that are more or less restrictive than the order.

The Athens-Clarke County Mayor & Commission passed a resolution on April 21 strongly encouraging residents and visitors to continue sheltering in place and for businesses to continue observing restrictions and curtailed services until further notice.

Read the full Governor's order online (PDF) and read the Mayor & Commission resolution.

$150,000 Approved for Initial Indigent Services through May, Proposals Sought by May 8 for June - Aug.

At a Special Called Session on April 14, the Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission approved $150,000 in funds as part of a local coronavirus resiliency package to assist indigent residents in the community immediately through the end of May.

Additionally, the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government (ACCGov) Housing and Community Development (HCD) Department released a request on April 23 seeking proposals for an Indigent Services Program from qualified organizations to provide homeless services, food assistance, and resource distribution to the indigent population.

The program is scheduled to run from June 3 until August 31, unless extended. Proposals from interested organizations are due by May 8.

"Indigency" for the purposes of these efforts is defined using federal guidelines.

Following are the pre-qualified organizations that are receiving the initial $150,000:

Advantage Behavioral Health Systems (ABHS) - $61,500
ABHS’ Homeless Day Service Center provides homeless individuals with case management, basic needs (shower, laundry, and hygiene kits), mental health services, and rental assistance. Indigent services costs include the provision of hotel payment assistance for 10 homeless individuals; staffing of three part-time weekend positions for the Homeless Day Service Center and hotel management operations; cleaning supplies for 65 households and four onsite offices; PPE for crisis center and 24/7 residential staff; food assistance for 65 homeless residents; and a portable restroom to receive service daily.
Athens Area Homeless Shelter - $61,500
AAHS provides emergency shelter and rental assistance to homeless families. Indigent services costs include the provision of hotel payment assistance for 10 homeless families, costs for two 24/7 on duty staff located at the hotel, shelter cleaning supplies, PPE for staff, food assistance for 10 sheltered families (breakfast, lunch, dinner), and personal care items for sheltered families.
Bigger Vision - $11,000
Bigger Vision provides emergency shelter for homeless individuals. Indigent services costs include staff costs for day-shift coverage, shelter-cleaning supplies, PPE for six staff, food assistance for homeless clients, and one portable restroom to receive service daily.
Family Promise - $16,000
Family Promise, formerly Interfaith Hospitality Network, provides emergency shelter for homeless families. Indigent services costs include staffing costs for one full-time on-site case manager, shelter cleaning supplies, PPE for 40 staff/volunteers, and food assistance (breakfast, lunch, dinner) for 10 individuals.

Further information on the proposal process is available on HCD’s website at www.accgov.com/hcd or by calling 706-613-3155.

122 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 122 positive cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Athens-Clarke County with 13 deaths as of 6:28 p.m. on April 23.

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.

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.