October 30, 2020 Update

CDC Guidance on Trick or Treating and Other Halloween Activities

CDC: Steps to Take when Trick or Treating

Traditional Halloween activities are fun, but some can increase the risk of getting or spreading COVID-19 or influenza. Plan alternate ways to participate in Halloween.

Make trick-or-treating safer

Avoid direct contact with trick-or-treaters.
Give out treats outdoors, if possible.
Set up a station with individually bagged treats for kids to take.
Wash hands before handling treats.
Wear a mask.

Wear a Mask

Make your cloth mask part of your costume.
A costume mask is not a substitute for a cloth mask.
Do NOT wear a costume mask over a cloth mask. It can make breathing more difficult.
Masks should NOT be worn by children under the age of 2 or anyone who has trouble breathing

Stay at least 6 feet away from others who do not live with you

Indoors and outdoors, you are more likely to get or spread COVID-19 when you are in close contact with others for a long time.

Wash your hands

Bring hand sanitizer with you and use it after touching objects or other people.
Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
Parents: supervise young children using hand sanitizer.
Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds when you get home and before you eat any treats.

Steps to Take for Other Halloween Activities

Enjoy Halloween activities and take steps to protect yourself from getting or spreading COVID-19.

Remember to always

Wear a cloth mask
Indoors and outdoors, stay at least 6 feet away from others who do not live with you
Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer frequently

Decorate and carve pumpkins

Decorate your home for Halloween.
Carve pumpkins with members of your household or outside with neighbors or friends.
Walk from house to house, admiring Halloween decorations at a distance.

Visit an orchard, forest, or corn maze.

Attend a scavenger hunt.
Go on an outdoor Halloween-themed scavenger hunt. Visit a pumpkin patch or orchard.
Remember to wash your hands or use hand sanitizer frequently, especially after touching frequently touched surfaces, pumpkins, or apples
Go to a one-way, walk-through haunted forest or corn maze.

Other Ideas

Hide Halloween treats in and around your house. Hold a Halloween treat hunt with household members.
Hold an outdoor costume parade or contest so everyone can show off their costumes.
Host an outdoor Halloween movie night with friends or neighbors or an indoor movie night with your household members.

For more information and recommendations on Halloween activities, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays/halloween.html.

COVID-19 Cases & Deaths in Athens-Clarke County

5,809 Cumulative Positive Cases Confirmed in Athens-Clarke County, 50 Deaths

The Georgia Department of Public Health Daily Status Report (https://dph.georgia.gov/covid-19-daily-status-report) confirms 5,809 positive cases of COVID-19 and 50 deaths reported in Athens-Clarke County as of 2:50 p.m. on October 23.

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 30 update shows an increase of 46 positive cases and 2 deaths since Wednesday, October 28.

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.

Governor’s October 30 Statewide Executive Order for November 1-15

On October 30, 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 November 1 at 12:00 a.m. and runs through November 15 at 11:59 p.m., while the public health emergency is extended until December 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

Only minimal changes were made to the sections on Government and Healthcare.

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.