October 16, 2020 Update

COVID-19 Update at Mayor & Commission Work Session

Each month, Manager Blaine Williams provides the Mayor and Commission - and the community - with summary updates about the ACCGov and community response to COVID-19. These meetings take place at the Work Session meetings, which are opportunities for the Mayor and Commission to discuss fewer items in a more in-depth fashion.

This month's update was provided at a pilot in-person Work Session on October 13 held under the covered tennis pavilion at Bishop Park.

Watch the video of the Work Session presentation (note: due to some technical difficulties, some of the audio may be challenging to hear)
View a PDF of the presentation and summary of responses

College Square Closed for Six Months to Vehicle Traffic for Pilot Project

The ACCGov Transportation and Public Works Department and Central Services Department closed College Avenue between East Clayton Street and East Broad Street, commonly known as College Square, to vehicles as of Thursday, October 8.

The closure is part of a six-month pilot project to close this block to vehicle traffic and temporarily convert the area to a pedestrian and dining plaza. The College Square Plaza project was approved by the Mayor and Commission at their June 25, 2020 meeting. At the end of the six-month pilot, the Mayor and Commission will consider whether to permanently close the block for use as a pedestrian plaza.

The plaza’s dining areas include:

five picnic tables
14 standard hexagonal tables
four ADA-accessible hexagonal tables for use by the public.

The tables are spaced in a socially distanced pattern. Hand sanitizer stations are located in the plaza.

Patrons using the spaces should clean up after themselves and be respectful of their time at a table if others are waiting to use tables.
Food and drink are allowed in the plaza area, but alcoholic beverages are not permitted.

As in other Athens-Clarke County public spaces, face covers are required in most instances for those over 10 years old when around other persons who do not live in the same home or residence. An exception is allowed for those who are eating and drinking. Social distancing should be maintained of at least six feet from other persons who do not live in the same home or residence.

For more information about the College Square Plaza project or to provide feedback on the plaza, visit www.accgov.com/collegesquare.

COVID-19 Cases & Deaths in Athens-Clarke County

5,517 Cumulative Positive Cases Confirmed in Athens-Clarke County, 46 Deaths

The Georgia Department of Public Health Daily Status Report (https://dph.georgia.gov/covid-19-daily-status-report) confirms 5,517 positive cases of COVID-19 and 46 deaths reported in Athens-Clarke County as of 2:50 p.m. on October 16.

ACCGov updates the graphic with case information on it most Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for social media. The graphic includes the increase in positive cases since the last update and the number of deaths.

The October 16 update shows an increase of 82 positive cases and 0 deaths since Wednesday, October 14.

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

October 1 - 5,121
September 1 - 3,082
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.

CARES Act Financial Assistance Information

Coronavirus COVID-19 Update: Courts & Courthouse

Jury Trials Allowed to Resume in Georgia; Will Follow COVID-19 Safety Guidelines

Chief Justice Harold D. Melton of the Supreme Court of Georgia signed an order that lifts the suspension of jury trials across Georgia. The order will extend until Nov. 9, 2020 the Statewide Judicial Emergency the Chief Justice declared on March 14, 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the seventh time he has extended the emergency for a 30-day period, as state law allows.

Last month’s order authorized the resumption of grand jury proceedings at the discretion of the Chief Judge of each superior court after consulting with the District Attorney, where such proceedings can be done safely in compliance with public health guidance. Similarly, the new order gives the Chief Judge of each trial court the discretion “to resume jury trials, if that can be done safely and in accordance with a final jury trial plan,” the new order says.

To get ready for the resumption of jury trials, last month’s order directed each Chief Judge of a superior court to convene a local committee in each county of the judicial circuit to develop a detailed plan with specific guidelines for the safe resumption of jury trials. That plan must be in place before jury trials may resume.

The order points out that due to the time required to summon potential jurors for service, grand jury hearings and jury trials will not actually start until a month or longer after the process for resuming them begins. Also, due to substantial backlogs of unindicted and untried cases, as well as public health precautions, proceedings will not occur at the speed they occurred before the pandemic. As a result, statutory deadlines based on indictments and jury trials will remain suspended, the order says.

Governor’s Statewide Executive Order for October 16-31

On October 15, 2020, Governor Brian P. Kemp signed the Executive Order extending current COVID-19 restrictions and the public health state of emergency. The new Executive Order takes effect on October 16 at 12:00 a.m. and runs through October 31 at 11:59 p.m., while the public health emergency is extended until November 9, 2020.

Among other areas, the executive order continues to include provisions for:

Residents and visitors to practice social distancing
Gathering of persons of more than 50 persons at a single location if they are required to stand or be seated within six feet of any other person
Sheltering-in-place for those who have a higher risk of severe illness
Guidelines for restaurants and dining services; industry, commerce, organizations & non-profits; healthcare; education & children; governments; sports & live performance venues; and conventions.
Enforcement of the order.

Read a PDF of the full order

Frequency of Updates

This coronavirus email / text update is sent once to twice a week during normal weeks, usually on Wednesdays and Fridays, with other updates as necessary with important information.

Questions can still be directed to www.accgov.com/coronavirus, which will be updated regularly, the info line at 706-613-3333, or coronavirus@accgov.com.