University of Georgia Surveillance Data & Positive COVID-19 Tests

UGA is reporting test results on a weekly basis on the University Health Center website at www.uhs.uga.edu/healthtopics/covid-19-health-and-exposure-updates. Results from the prior week are reported each Wednesday. 

The website displays the COVID-19 positive test results from three sources:

• the UGA surveillance program;
• tests performed at the University Health Center;
• those reported in DawgCheck by employees and students.

UGA COVID-19 Surveillance Testing Data

With the reopening of campus on August 10, 2020, the University of Georgia began conducting COVID-19 testing on campus to help identify individuals who do not have COVID-19 symptoms but who may spread the virus to others.

This “surveillance testing” focuses on asymptomatic members of the campus community and is voluntary. The plan calls for 24,000 tests to be conducted by Thanksgiving at a rate of up to 300 tests per day on samples collected from faculty, staff, and students who volunteer.

The University Health Center is conducting the sampling at Legion Field, with specimen analysis to be performed by the Veterinary Medicine Diagnostic Lab, which recently earned certification to process human samples.

UGA surveillance program activity is presented as a weekly sum of tests performed and the positivity rate. Data is posted each Wednesday for the work week prior to accommodate the time needed to obtain and process results.

View the data and read more at www.uhs.uga.edu/healthtopics/covid-19-health-and-exposure-updates.

Positive COVID-19 Tests Reported Through DawgCheck

Also coinciding with the reopening of campus, the University implemented a tool called DawgCheck to give members of the campus community the ability to self-monitor and to help information sharing internally and with the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH).

Any student or employee with a positive COVID-19 test is required to report the test in DawgCheck. The table on the website reflects the total number of positive test results reported through DawgCheck each week.  It is updated every Wednesday.

View the data and read more at www.uhs.uga.edu/healthtopics/covid-19-health-and-exposure-updates.

New Northeast Health District Weekly Report

On August 10, the Georgia Department of Public Health's (DPH) Northeast Health District began producing a weekly COVID-19 testing report for the 10 county district that covers Athens-Clarke, Barrow, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Madison, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, and Walton counties.

The newest report was released today (Wednesday, August 26).

The report includes county-by-county information about:

• Total number of PCR tests performed by all providers reported to DPH
• Percent of total tested with positive results
• Positive cases per 100,000 total population
• Cumulative number hospitalized
• Percent of positive cases requiring hospitalization
• Cumulative deaths
• Percent of positive cases who died
• Deaths per 100,000 total population
• Positive cases by race/ethnicity and age (from tests performed by the Northeast Health District only - does not include other providers)

2,628 Positive Cases Confirmed in Athens-Clarke County, 26 Deaths

The state Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) case tracker (https://dph.georgia.gov/covid-19-daily-status-report) confirms 2,628 positive cases of COVID-19 in Athens-Clarke County and 26 deaths as of 2:50 p.m. on August 26.

These are cumulative cases total since February 25, 2020. For reference, numbers from the beginning of each month:

• August 1 - 1,694
• July 1 - 574
• June 1 - 293
• May 1 - 155
• April 1 - 54
• March 1 - 4

The Daily Status Report is now updated once daily at 3:00 p.m. to allow time to process and validate laboratory and case reports. If you view the data, please be sure to check the area showing the definitions of the information presented. Some, such as "hospitalizations," have different meanings than what may be expected.

Eleven deaths occurred at a long-term care facility during March and April. For a daily report on long-term health care facilities in the state, visit the Georgia Department of Community Health’s website at dch.georgia.gov.

Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions such as 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.

DPH Daily Status Report Improvements

As of Aug. 18, there were several improvements to the COVID-19 Daily Status Report on the Georgia Department of Public Health’s (DPH) website (dph.georgia.gov/covid-19-daily-status-report).

These changes are designed to make the dashboard more user-friendly while providing an accurate picture of COVID-19 in Georgia.

The changes to the Daily Status Report include:

• Map changes: The way you choose which maps to view has changed. You are now able to choose the map you would like to view as well as change the date being viewed. In addition, % PCR positive lab data have been added.
  
  To use the new features:
  • Choose "Cases," "Testing" or "Deaths," then use the drop-down menu to choose cumulative "Cases," "Cases per 100K," "Deaths," "Deaths per 100K," "% Positive," or data for the "Last two weeks." On the map, you can hover or click to find out additional details such as number of deaths, hospitalizations, case rate, etc. Selecting a county will also update the cases over time charts.
  • By clicking on the date above the map, you can select a past date to see historic maps, using the current color scale.
  • Two maps have been added to reflect percent positive PCR by county
    • "% Positive Last two weeks": Reflects the percent positive PCR tests reported through ELR by county during the last two weeks.
    • "% Positive Overall": Reflects the cumulative percent positive PCR tests reported through ELR by county.
• "COVID-19 Over Time" now has the option to select total PCR tests and percent positive PCR tests.
• A link has been added to access Georgia hospital capacity and current COVID-19 hospitalization data: covid-hub.gio.georgia.gov/#hospital.