|
|
CDC Requirement for Face Masks on Public Transportation Extended / Travel Health Notice System Change
CDC continues to monitor the spread of the Omicron variant, especially the BA.2 subvariant that now makes up more than 85% of U.S. cases. Since early April, there have been increases in the 7-day moving average of cases in the U.S.
On January 29, 2021, CDC issued an Order that required face masks to be worn by all people while on public transportation (which included all passengers and all personnel operating conveyances) traveling into, within, or out of the United States and U.S. territories.
The Order also required all people to wear masks while at transportation hubs (e.g., airports, bus or ferry terminals, train and subway stations, seaports, U.S. ports of entry, and other locations where people board public transportation in the United States and U.S. territories), including both indoor and outdoor areas.
The CDC Mask Order for travel remains in effect while CDC assesses the potential impact of the rise of cases on severe disease, including hospitalizations and deaths, and healthcare system capacity. TSA will extend the security directive and emergency amendment for 15 days, through May 3, 2022.
Secondly, CDC will update its Travel Health Notice system for international destinations. To help the public understand when the highest level of concern is most urgent, this new system will reserve Level 4 travel health notices for special circumstances, such as rapidly escalating case trajectory or extremely high case counts, emergence of a new variant of concern, or healthcare infrastructure collapse. Levels 3, 2, and 1 will continue to be primarily determined by 28-day incidence or case counts. The new level system will be effective April 18, 2022.
CDC uses Travel Health Notices to alert travelers and other audiences to health threats around the world and advise on how to protect themselves before, during, and after travel.
With this new configuration, travelers will have a more actionable alert for when they should not travel to a certain destination (Level 4), regardless of vaccination status, until we have a clearer understanding of the COVID-19 situation at that destination.
|
|
|
|
DPH Moves to Weekly COVID-19 Data Reporting
The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is transitioning from daily to weekly COVID-19 data reporting. Case counts and vaccination updates will be published on the DPH website every Wednesday beginning April 20. The last daily updates to the Daily Status Report and the vaccine dashboard will be April 15.
Weekly intervals provide a more complete picture than day to day changes or data fluctuations when determining areas of concern or COVID’s trajectory in the state. Given the number of at home COVID tests that do not get reported, there is a now a greater focus on other indicators such as hospital admissions, hospital occupancy, and overall vaccination rates when assessing the community impact of COVID-19.
Additional data that are reported weekly (e.g., County Indicator Report, Breakthrough Case Report, School-Aged Surveillance Report, etc.) will continue to be published on their current publication days.
Additionally, per new CDC guidance, only positive and negative PCR test results and positive antigen tests are required to be reported. Facilities no longer need to report negative results from antigen or rapid tests, and they no longer need to report any positive or negative results for antibody tests. Home tests also are not reportable.
Due to this reporting requirement change and the change in data received by DPH, the following columns will be removed from the COVID-19 Testing table:
- PCR/Molecular Reported Today
- Total Antigen
- Total Antibody (Serology)
Changes have also been made to the downloadable data files, see The Latest: What’s New with this Report for additional information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Positive UGA COVID-19 Tests Reported Through DawgCheck (April 4-10)
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.
For the week of April 4, there were 31 reported positive COVID-19 tests through DawgCheck.
Last Five Weeks of Tests
|
|
|
|
|
|
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 do 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.
- Since August 10, 2020 UGA has supported surveillance testing for asymptomatic individuals and clinical (Health Center) testing resources for symptomatic students as a means of distancing the two populations and optimizing the use of Health Center staff and the facility.
- For the week of April 4, 2022, the University Health Center conducted a total of 108 clinical tests, with 6 positive results, for a positivity rate of 5.56%.
- Results of asymptomatic testing for the week of April 4-10: 163 tests (17% faculty, 23% staff, and 60% students) had 1 positive results for a positivity rate of 0.61%.
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. |
|
|
|
Clarke County School District COVID-19 Dashboard - April 13, 2022The CCSD COVID-19 Dashboard displays positive cases in the past 7, 14 and 30 days across the district and by each school, with hourly updates.
As of 6:00 PM on April 13, 2022, the dashboard shows: - 11 cases in March 2022
- 180 cases in February 2022
- 1,532 cases in January 2022
- 49 cases in December 2021
- 33 cases in November 2021
- 71 cases in October 2021
- 312 cases in September 2021
- <10 cases in the past 30 days (11 on April 6 report)
- <10 cases in the past 14 days (<10 on April 6 report)
- <10 cases in the past 7 days (<10 on April 6 report)
- 0.1% of students and staff with cases in the last 30 days (1.9% on April 6 report)
- 0.1% of students and staff with cases in the last 14 days (0.1% on April 6 report)
- 0.1% of students and staff with cases in the last 7 days (0.1% on April 6 report)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Free COVID-19 Mobile Vaccine Events
Below are some upcoming opportunities for free vaccinations from the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) Northeast Health District (NEHD) at mobile locations. (Schedules subject to change by NEHD - verify information on the NEHD website.)
- No appointment needed
- Walk-ups welcome
- No insurance required
- No ID required
- $100 gift card incentive program for eligible participants
- Vaccines for 5 to 11-year-olds are available at the county health department clinics – they may not be available via the mobile outreach events unless specifically noted.
- Anyone under 18 years of age MUST have a parent present or a signed consent form.
The Athens-Clarke County COVID-19 vaccine incentive program provides $100 gift cards for those who live, work or attend school in Athens-Clarke County. If you have previously (on or after September 3) received your first dose at the Clarke County Health Department or one of their outreach events, you are still eligible for the incentive for your second dose at either mobile events or the Health Department.
Gift cards are available from the Northeast Health District to first-time vaccinated individuals only at mobile vaccination events.Upcoming event listings are updated every Friday online on the NEHD websiteResources:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share via Email
