Athens-Clarke County’s mask mandate kicked in again Friday as COVID-19 continues to spread.
The ordinance, originally passed in April of 2020, was triggered when Clarke County moved from the “low” to “high” category on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Community Level map when the CDC made its weekly update Thursday night.
Athens had 207 cases per 100,000 people over the past week, up from 154 for the week of June 30. Eleven residents were hospitalized for the virus, and one died, bringing the total deaths to 225.
In addition, after a period of stability, viral loads in wastewater are increasing, according to professor Erin Lipp’s lab at the UGA Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases. Given the prevalence of at-home tests that aren’t recorded by authorities, official case are undercounted, so wastewater data is a better indication of the virus’ spread.
“We are in the midst of a surge that is not well-reflected in assessments of clinical reporting alone,” according to the latest update from Lipp’s lab.
The surge appears to be once again straining local hospitals, with 72 intensive care beds (87%) currently occupied, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health.
The ACC ordinance requires wearing a mask in indoor public spaces, including government buildings, Athens Transit and privately owned businesses, unless the business posts a sign opting out of the law. Exceptions include children under 10 and people with a medical condition that does not allow them to wear a mask.
Violators can be fined, but thus far ACC has chosen a compliance-based approach, with police officers and others handing out disposable masks rather than tickets.
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