December 2, 2020 Update

11th Declaration of a Local State of Emergency Approved by Mayor & Commission

The Mayor and Commission approved a 11th declaration of a local state of emergency at their Regular Session on December 1. The declaration is in effect through January 10, 2021 unless extended, rescinded, superseded, or altered by the Mayor and Commission.

The sections of the declaration includes:

Requiring facial coverings or masks in entities or public places over the mouth and nose at all times where physical distancing measures may be difficult to maintain. Exceptions to the requirement are noted in the declaration.
Allowing establishments licensed to sell beer or wine on premises to sell unopened bottles, cans, or growlers of beer and wine for take-out consumption off premises.
Allowing patrons or employees at restaurants to transport, serve, or consume open container alcoholic beverages in an outdoor seating area within 100 feet of the outer wall of licensed premises or who are transporting alcoholic beverages across public streets, sidewalks or rights-of-way for the purpose of serving or consuming said beverages as described.
Allowing patrons or employees of retail liquor, beer, or wine by the drink establishments that are participating in the outdoor retail area program to transport, serve, or consume alcoholic beverages in any open container in an approved outdoor retail area or to transport alcoholic beverages across public streets, sidewalks, or rights-of-way for the purpose of serving or consuming in the approved outdoor retail area.
Extending the Occupation Tax for businesses from the April 1, 2020 deadline to December 31, 2020.

The full 11th declaration of a local emergency is available online.

Governor’s Statewide Executive Order for December 1-15

On November 30, 2020, Governor Kemp signed the Executive Order extending current COVID-19 restrictions and the public health state of emergency.

The new Executive Order took effect on December 1 at 12:00 a.m. and runs through December 15 at 11:59 p.m., while the public health emergency is extended until January 8, 2021.

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

The Executive Order also includes changes that allow nurses and pharmacists to administer the pending COVID-19 vaccine, including in a drive-thru setting, and permits any nurse or pharmacist to observe patients for the requisite 15 minute window after receiving the vaccine.

Read a PDF of the full order

Georgia Department of Public Health Daily Status Report

Dec. 2 Case Update for Athens-Clarke County

The Wednesday, December 2 update shows an increase of 247 positive cases and 1 death since Wednesday, November 25.

Cumulative case counts from February are no longer being displayed on the graphic. For reference, here are the cumulative numbers from the beginning of each month:

December 1 - 6,723
November 1 - 5,872
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. The Daily Status Report is available at https://dph.georgia.gov/covid-19-daily-status-report.

Positive UGA COVID-19 Tests Reported Through DawgCheck - Week 16 (Nov. 13-29)

The University of Georgia DawgCheck tool gives members of the campus community the ability to self-monitor and to facilitate 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.

Last Five Weeks of Tests

DawgCheck Reports: Positive COVID-19 Tests by Week

Visit the UGA Health Center Website with these graphs and other updates.

The table above reflects the total number of positive test results reported through DawgCheck each week. It is updated every Wednesday. Please note the following:

Positive tests reported through DawgCheck are from any of the approximately 50,000 faculty, staff, and students connected to the University of Georgia, whether located in Athens, extended campuses, extension offices across the state, or even other states and countries for students who elected to take online classes.
The totals may include reports from individuals who have not been on campus recently, there may be delays in reporting, and the totals may even include individuals who have recovered.
Therefore, the data does not serve as an accurate barometer of the current status of COVID-19 at any point in time at any one of UGA’s campuses.
For the week of November 23, 33% of the tests in the “Other” category were performed in Athens-Clarke and its five adjoining counties, and the remaining 67% were located elsewhere in the state. Three students and one employee reported positive tests done outside of the state. No instructional faculty reported a positive test.

DawgCheck and other University of Georgia-related COVID information is available at the University Health Center website at https://uhs.uga.edu/healthtopics/covid-19-health-and-exposure-updates.

Northeast Health District Weekly Report - Not Available

The Georgia Department of Public Health's (DPH) Northeast Health District 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 was not available online as of Wednesday, December 2.

Frequency of Updates

This coronavirus email / text update is sent weekly during normal weeks, usually on Wednesdays, 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.