First, I just want to say I hope everyone is staying safe in this difficult time. Circumstances are changing every day, but I wanted to get you information about how COVID-19 is impacting the City and what resources are available to help those in need. I will be sending updates as new information is made available from our newsletter emails and on this site.
As always, I encourage your feedback and comments. Please contact me at (404) 330-6049 or jnide@atlantaga.gov if I can be of assistance.
Although we are working remotely, Lance, Kent, Phyllis and I are here to help you and will be responding to calls and emails. I appreciate the opportunity to be your voice in our city government.
The Administration has made available an email for questions related to COVID-19 and the City of Atlanta's response: stayathome@AtlantaGa.Gov
Please read below for updates from the CDC, Atlanta City Council, Georgia Department of Public Health, Local Healthcare Systems, Atlanta Public Schools, and Georgia Department of Labor
Where to get tested
Testing is crucial to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Whether you have symptoms or want the peace of mind that you are negative, stay up-to-date on your testing. There are ever-changing locations for walk-up and drive-by testing facilities but there are a number of resources to locate those sites.
Georgia Department of Health - Enter your zip code and they will provide a map with nearby facilities
Fulton County Department of Health - Fulton County has changing locations on their website for the area
CORE Testing Facilities - CORE has teamed up with Fulton County to provide testing so there may be overlap with their locations
Testing is crucial to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Whether you have symptoms or want the peace of mind that you are negative, stay up-to-date on your testing. There are ever-changing locations for walk-up and drive-by testing facilities but there are a number of resources to locate those sites.
Georgia Department of Health - Enter your zip code and they will provide a map with nearby facilities
Fulton County Department of Health - Fulton County has changing locations on their website for the area
CORE Testing Facilities - CORE has teamed up with Fulton County to provide testing so there may be overlap with their locations
CDC Guidelines for Protection from COVID- 19
These slides contain the necessary steps that the CDC has asked everyone to take in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19. You can learn more on their website.
CDC Guidelines for if you think you have COVID-19
If you are sick with COVID-19 or suspect you are infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, follow the steps below to help prevent the disease from spreading to people in your home and community.
(Source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html)
Stay home except to get medical care
You should restrict activities outside your home, except for getting medical care. Do not go to work, school, or public areas. Avoid using public transportation, ride-sharing, or taxis.
Separate yourself from other people and animals in your home
People: As much as possible, you should stay in a specific room and away from other people in your home. Also, you should use a separate bathroom, if available.
Animals: Do not handle pets or other animals while sick. See COVID-19 and Animals for more information.
Call ahead before visiting your doctor
If you have a medical appointment, call the healthcare provider and tell them that you have or may have COVID-19. This will help the healthcare provider’s office take steps to keep other people from getting infected or exposed.
Wear a facemask
You should wear a facemask when you are around other people (e.g., sharing a room or vehicle) or pets and before you enter a healthcare provider’s office. If you are not able to wear a facemask (for example, because it causes trouble breathing), then people who live with you should not stay in the same room with you, or they should wear a facemask if they enter your room.
Cover your coughs and sneezes
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw used tissues in a lined trash can; immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60-95% alcohol covering all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry. Soap and water should be used preferentially if hands are visibly dirty.
Avoid sharing personal household items
You should not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, or bedding with other people or pets in your home. After using these items, they should be washed thoroughly with soap and water.
Clean your hands often
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol, covering all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry. Soap and water should be used preferentially if hands are visibly dirty. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Clean all “high-touch” surfaces every day
High touch surfaces include counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables. Also, clean any surfaces that may have blood, stool, or body fluids on them. Use a household cleaning spray or wipe, according to the label instructions. Labels contain instructions for safe and effective use of the cleaning product including precautions you should take when applying the product, such as wearing gloves and making sure you have good ventilation during use of the product.
Monitor your symptoms
Seek prompt medical attention if your illness is worsening (e.g., difficulty breathing). Before seeking care, call your healthcare provider and tell them that you have, or are being evaluated for, COVID-19. Put on a facemask before you enter the facility. These steps will help the healthcare provider’s office to keep other people in the office or waiting room from getting infected or exposed.
Ask your healthcare provider to call the local or state health department. Persons who are placed under active monitoring or facilitated self-monitoring should follow instructions provided by their local health department or occupational health professionals, as appropriate. If you have a medical emergency and need to call 911, notify the dispatch personnel that you have, or are being evaluated for COVID-19. If possible, put on a facemask before emergency medical services arrive.
Discontinuing home isolation
Patients with confirmed COVID-19 should remain under home isolation precautions until the risk of secondary transmission to others is thought to be low. The decision to discontinue home isolation precautions should be made on a case-by-case basis, in consultation with healthcare providers and state and local health departments.
(Source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html)
Stay home except to get medical care
You should restrict activities outside your home, except for getting medical care. Do not go to work, school, or public areas. Avoid using public transportation, ride-sharing, or taxis.
Separate yourself from other people and animals in your home
People: As much as possible, you should stay in a specific room and away from other people in your home. Also, you should use a separate bathroom, if available.
Animals: Do not handle pets or other animals while sick. See COVID-19 and Animals for more information.
Call ahead before visiting your doctor
If you have a medical appointment, call the healthcare provider and tell them that you have or may have COVID-19. This will help the healthcare provider’s office take steps to keep other people from getting infected or exposed.
Wear a facemask
You should wear a facemask when you are around other people (e.g., sharing a room or vehicle) or pets and before you enter a healthcare provider’s office. If you are not able to wear a facemask (for example, because it causes trouble breathing), then people who live with you should not stay in the same room with you, or they should wear a facemask if they enter your room.
Cover your coughs and sneezes
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw used tissues in a lined trash can; immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60-95% alcohol covering all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry. Soap and water should be used preferentially if hands are visibly dirty.
Avoid sharing personal household items
You should not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, or bedding with other people or pets in your home. After using these items, they should be washed thoroughly with soap and water.
Clean your hands often
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol, covering all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry. Soap and water should be used preferentially if hands are visibly dirty. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Clean all “high-touch” surfaces every day
High touch surfaces include counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables. Also, clean any surfaces that may have blood, stool, or body fluids on them. Use a household cleaning spray or wipe, according to the label instructions. Labels contain instructions for safe and effective use of the cleaning product including precautions you should take when applying the product, such as wearing gloves and making sure you have good ventilation during use of the product.
Monitor your symptoms
Seek prompt medical attention if your illness is worsening (e.g., difficulty breathing). Before seeking care, call your healthcare provider and tell them that you have, or are being evaluated for, COVID-19. Put on a facemask before you enter the facility. These steps will help the healthcare provider’s office to keep other people in the office or waiting room from getting infected or exposed.
Ask your healthcare provider to call the local or state health department. Persons who are placed under active monitoring or facilitated self-monitoring should follow instructions provided by their local health department or occupational health professionals, as appropriate. If you have a medical emergency and need to call 911, notify the dispatch personnel that you have, or are being evaluated for COVID-19. If possible, put on a facemask before emergency medical services arrive.
Discontinuing home isolation
Patients with confirmed COVID-19 should remain under home isolation precautions until the risk of secondary transmission to others is thought to be low. The decision to discontinue home isolation precautions should be made on a case-by-case basis, in consultation with healthcare providers and state and local health departments.
City of Atlanta Updated Operations
City Facilities
Beginning Monday, March 16, 2020, City facilities, including City Hall and the Municipal Court, will be closed to the public. City employees, including Council staff, will work remotely.
City Services
Essential City services, including emergency services and trash pickup, will remain operational, though Solid Waste Services did make a slight change to their collection policies to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. They will no longer collect items that are outside of the regular bins. If you have additional items that do not fit, you will need to schedule a bulk collection in order to have the extra waste collected.
City Council Meetings
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Atlanta City Council will be held on Tuesday, March 17, at 10:00 a.m. through remote access. Media and the public can access the live meeting using the conference bridge by dialing 877-579-6743 and entering ID number 8315991256. For more on the meeting, including the agenda and how to submit public comments, visit the Atlanta City Council website.
Planning and Permitting Operations
For March 16, 2020:
✓ Intake of new permits that require paper plans submitted to the Office of Zoning & Development or the Office of Buildings will be suspended temporarily. We will get submittal of new plans operational as quickly as possible.
✓ Submittal of plans that are done online will continue as normal.
✓ Review of plans already submitted will proceed. Applicants will continue to hear from staff on these active submittals via email and phone.
✓ Inspection services will continue although there will intermittently be delays in service as we equip all inspectors with critical protective gear. For all other City Planning related inquiries please continue communication with our staff via email and phone.
NPUs and Civic Associations
With gatherings being discouraged and many public facilities and schools closed, most NPUs are not meeting this month. Below is a message from NPU-F:
The NPU-F meeting on Monday night [3/16] has been cancelled. Hillside Center is limiting all unnecessary campus access and visitation until further notice to protect their clients and staff. They asked that we cancel our meeting. Before hearing from Hillside, a quick survey of members of the NPU-F Executive Committee also opted for cancellation.
Planning is looking at technology options that will facilitate virtual NPU meetings. Hopefully, something will be in place before our next meeting in April. - Debbie Skopczynski, Chair, NPU F
All City Events Cancelled & Large Gatherings Discouraged
All City-sponsored events have been cancelled and by Executive Order, all large gatherings over 250 people have been barred through March 31, 2020. As the CDC has now recommended avoiding gatherings of over 10 people, the Executive Order is likely to be updated.
Assistance to Individuals and Businesses
The City recognizes that this crisis is having an impact on all of our residents and businesses. We are working with the State and counties, as well as Invest Atlanta, to determine what further steps we will take to help our residents. I will update you as these plans are developed.
Beginning Monday, March 16, 2020, City facilities, including City Hall and the Municipal Court, will be closed to the public. City employees, including Council staff, will work remotely.
City Services
Essential City services, including emergency services and trash pickup, will remain operational, though Solid Waste Services did make a slight change to their collection policies to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. They will no longer collect items that are outside of the regular bins. If you have additional items that do not fit, you will need to schedule a bulk collection in order to have the extra waste collected.
City Council Meetings
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Atlanta City Council will be held on Tuesday, March 17, at 10:00 a.m. through remote access. Media and the public can access the live meeting using the conference bridge by dialing 877-579-6743 and entering ID number 8315991256. For more on the meeting, including the agenda and how to submit public comments, visit the Atlanta City Council website.
Planning and Permitting Operations
For March 16, 2020:
✓ Intake of new permits that require paper plans submitted to the Office of Zoning & Development or the Office of Buildings will be suspended temporarily. We will get submittal of new plans operational as quickly as possible.
✓ Submittal of plans that are done online will continue as normal.
✓ Review of plans already submitted will proceed. Applicants will continue to hear from staff on these active submittals via email and phone.
✓ Inspection services will continue although there will intermittently be delays in service as we equip all inspectors with critical protective gear. For all other City Planning related inquiries please continue communication with our staff via email and phone.
NPUs and Civic Associations
With gatherings being discouraged and many public facilities and schools closed, most NPUs are not meeting this month. Below is a message from NPU-F:
The NPU-F meeting on Monday night [3/16] has been cancelled. Hillside Center is limiting all unnecessary campus access and visitation until further notice to protect their clients and staff. They asked that we cancel our meeting. Before hearing from Hillside, a quick survey of members of the NPU-F Executive Committee also opted for cancellation.
Planning is looking at technology options that will facilitate virtual NPU meetings. Hopefully, something will be in place before our next meeting in April. - Debbie Skopczynski, Chair, NPU F
All City Events Cancelled & Large Gatherings Discouraged
All City-sponsored events have been cancelled and by Executive Order, all large gatherings over 250 people have been barred through March 31, 2020. As the CDC has now recommended avoiding gatherings of over 10 people, the Executive Order is likely to be updated.
Assistance to Individuals and Businesses
The City recognizes that this crisis is having an impact on all of our residents and businesses. We are working with the State and counties, as well as Invest Atlanta, to determine what further steps we will take to help our residents. I will update you as these plans are developed.
Georgia Department of Public Health Hotline & Updates
The Georgia Department of Public Health maintains a very thorough website regarding COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
Georgia Hotline:
(844) 442-2681
The State of Georgia has a new COVID-19 hotline. If you believe that you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to the novel coronavirus, please contact your primary care doctor, an urgent care clinic, or your local federally qualified healthcare center. Please do not show up unannounced at an emergency room or health care facility.
Georgia Statistics:
GDPH is updating statewide confirmed cases every day at noon. You can find that information here. Remember, there is limited testing being done at the time, so these figures are not representational of the spread of the disease in the state.
Georgia Hotline:
(844) 442-2681
The State of Georgia has a new COVID-19 hotline. If you believe that you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to the novel coronavirus, please contact your primary care doctor, an urgent care clinic, or your local federally qualified healthcare center. Please do not show up unannounced at an emergency room or health care facility.
Georgia Statistics:
GDPH is updating statewide confirmed cases every day at noon. You can find that information here. Remember, there is limited testing being done at the time, so these figures are not representational of the spread of the disease in the state.
Local Healthcare Systems' COVID-19 Information
Local healthcare systems each have coronavirus information up on their websites. Some healthcare systems are postponing elective procedures and other appointments and limiting visitors, so check in with your providers before heading to the hospital .
Links to local systems are provided below for your convenience:
Piedmont Healthcare
Emory Healthcare
Northside Hospital
Grady Hospital
Wellstar
Local healthcare systems each have coronavirus information up on their websites. Some healthcare systems are postponing elective procedures and other appointments and limiting visitors, so check in with your providers before heading to the hospital .
Links to local systems are provided below for your convenience:
Piedmont Healthcare
Emory Healthcare
Northside Hospital
Grady Hospital
Wellstar
Atlanta Public Schools
Atlanta Public Schools (APS) is closed starting March 16 for at least 2 weeks and is transitioning to virtual education. Click here to read letter from Superintendent Meria Carstarphen. Virtually all private schools and colleges have done the same.
Emergency Food Distribution for APS Students
APS has received approval to open more sites for distribution of emergency student meals and run some food routes using our buses. More information on this is coming soon. For now, beginning Monday, March 16, all children and families throughout the community can receive free-bagged meals at our five APS school sites (breakfast and lunch) Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. during the District closure to prevent the spread of COVID-19:
In addition, ready-to-eat meals are available through APS partner, GOODR, at Hosea Williams Feed The Hungry at 4779 Mindy St., and at Loaves and Fishes at St. John the Wonderworker Parish at 543 Cherokee Ave. Further, GOODR will be at the five APS school sites with fresh produce for pick up as well.
Thanks to APS partner, the Atlanta Community Food Bank, beginning March 23, all children and their families throughout the community can also receive shelf-stable groceries at the five APS food distribution sites. In addition, the Atlanta Community Food Bank has more than 50 sites for food distribution. (As a reminder, APS does not manage the hours or service at these food distribution sites. Contact the food distribution sites directly for information about their hours, service, and any other requirements for food. Click here to see the full list of food distribution sites).
How to Help APS Families
APS has a page on their website of resources that are set up to help APS families during this time.
Emergency Food Distribution for APS Students
APS has received approval to open more sites for distribution of emergency student meals and run some food routes using our buses. More information on this is coming soon. For now, beginning Monday, March 16, all children and families throughout the community can receive free-bagged meals at our five APS school sites (breakfast and lunch) Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. during the District closure to prevent the spread of COVID-19:
- Bunche Middle School - 1925 Niskey Lake Rd., SW
- Cleveland Avenue Elementary School - 2672 Old Hapeville Rd., SW
- Douglass High School - 225 Hamilton E Holmes Dr., NW
- Phoenix Academy (formerly Alonzo Crim High School) - 256 Clifton St., SE
- Sylvan Hills Middle School - 1461 Sylvan Rd., SW, Atlanta, GA 3031
In addition, ready-to-eat meals are available through APS partner, GOODR, at Hosea Williams Feed The Hungry at 4779 Mindy St., and at Loaves and Fishes at St. John the Wonderworker Parish at 543 Cherokee Ave. Further, GOODR will be at the five APS school sites with fresh produce for pick up as well.
Thanks to APS partner, the Atlanta Community Food Bank, beginning March 23, all children and their families throughout the community can also receive shelf-stable groceries at the five APS food distribution sites. In addition, the Atlanta Community Food Bank has more than 50 sites for food distribution. (As a reminder, APS does not manage the hours or service at these food distribution sites. Contact the food distribution sites directly for information about their hours, service, and any other requirements for food. Click here to see the full list of food distribution sites).
How to Help APS Families
APS has a page on their website of resources that are set up to help APS families during this time.
Georgia Department of Labor
In response to the recent development of COVID-19, the Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) is temporarily suspending in-person requirements for services provided by the agency. In accordance with Governor Kemp’s recommendation, the GDOL is providing online access to unemployment services, partial claim access for employers, and other reemployment services.
Employers are required to file partial claims on behalf of their employees whenever it is necessary to temporarily reduce work hours or there is no work available for a short period. Any employer found to be in violation of this rule will be required to reimburse GDOL for the full amount of unemployment insurance benefits paid to the employee.
PLEASE VISIT THEIR WEBSITE TO APPLY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS:
https://dol.georgia.gov/blog/new-information-filing-unemployment-partial-claims-and-reemployment-services
Employers are required to file partial claims on behalf of their employees whenever it is necessary to temporarily reduce work hours or there is no work available for a short period. Any employer found to be in violation of this rule will be required to reimburse GDOL for the full amount of unemployment insurance benefits paid to the employee.
PLEASE VISIT THEIR WEBSITE TO APPLY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS:
https://dol.georgia.gov/blog/new-information-filing-unemployment-partial-claims-and-reemployment-services