Next Community Conversation on Wed., May 6 at 6:00 p.m. with Mayor Girtz & Georgia Department of Labor Commissioner Mark Butler

Join Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz each week on Wednesday evenings at 6:00 p.m. as he virtually discusses local COVID-19 responses with local staff and community members.

The third conversation takes place on Wednesday, May 6 at 6:00 p.m. with Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler.

The first part of the conversation will be a discussion, while the second part will be a Q&A session in which Mayor Girtz will ask and answer questions with his guests related to that week's topic.

This week's conversation was pre-recorded, but the video will be broadcast and streamed at 6:00 p.m. on:

YouTube (www.youtube.com/accgov);
the YouTube app on mobile devices or TV systems by searching for 'accgov';
Facebook (www.facebook.com/accgov);
the ACCGov website (www.accgov.com/videos or www.accgov.com/actvlive);
ACTV cable channel 180

DPH Accepting Donations of Personal Protective Equipment for Distribution to Local Healthcare and Long-Term Care Facilities

Northeast Health District Now Accepting Community Donations of Personal Protective Equipment for Distribution to Local Healthcare and Long-Term Care Facilities

As the COVID-19 response continues, the Northeast Health District has begun serving as a coordination point for donations of personal protective equipment (PPE) from the community.

The health district, which serves Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Madison, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, and Walton Counties, began accepting donations this past Monday, April 27.

The following items are being accepted:

N-95 respirators
Surgical masks
Cloth face coverings
Eye protection (face shields/goggles/glasses)
Gowns
Gloves (latex free)
Disinfectant wipes
Shoe covers
Hand sanitizer

“The amount of support we’ve received from the public has been incredible and is so appreciated,” expressed Elisabeth Wilson, Region E Healthcare Coalition Facilitator and point of contact for donations. “These donations will help our local healthcare organizations continue to provide care to serve our community.”

Donated items will be distributed to local healthcare and long-term care facilities that may be experiencing difficulties obtaining these items.

“We are grateful for the support and resources the Georgia Department of Public Health has offered us throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. At PruittHealth – Athens Heritage, we're especially thankful for the Georgia Department of Public Health's help securing the necessary personal protective equipment to keep our patients and staff safe,” noted Elise Stafford, administrator at PruittHealth – Athens Heritage, a skilled nursing and rehabilitation center located in Athens-Clarke County.

Please contact Elisabeth Wilson at 706-286-4684 or elisabeth.wilson@dph.ga.gov with questions or to donate supplies.

168 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 168 positive cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Athens-Clarke County with 13 deaths as of 6:25 p.m. on May 5.

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 (129.45 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.