Community transmission of COVID-19 in Athens-Clarke County has fallen again, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s weekly data. That update was released on Thursday evening.
The case rate per 100,000 residents fell from the 206 reported last on September 2 to 118 in Thursday’s report. New hospital admissions also fell from 17 to 13. Barrow, Jackson, Madison, Oconee, and Oglethorpe Counties also report a medium level of transmission.
Five arrested in August shooting
Five people have been arrested in connection with an August shooting in downtown Athens that left one person with non-life-threatening injuries.
The Athens-Clarke County Police Department arrested 23-year-olds Miquan Pittard, Antonio Thomas, and Raekwon Smith, along with 25-year old Jyterious Turner and a 17-year old in connection with the incident.
Police say at around 11 pm August 25th, in the 300 block of Clayton Street, a 17-year old male was shot and taken to a hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
The suspects face charges including Aggravated Assault, Armed Robbery, Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony, and Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism Act.
The incident remains under investigation.
SAT and ACT not required at most Georgia colleges and universities
SAT and ACT exams will continue to be optional as a criteria for admission to most of Georgia’s public universities for the next academic year.
University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue made the announcement, adding that the exams will still be required at the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech.
Perdue pointed to college enrollment challenges as well as the threat of a lot of Georgia students going out of state to colleges that don’t require the tests as reasons for extending the waiver that started during the COVID pandemic.
Students at the system's other 24 schools will still be required to meet other college admission requirements including grade point average thresholds.
The SAT or ACT will still be required for students seeking the Zell Miller Scholarship, which covers full tuition at University System Schools, but those tests will not be required for those receiving the HOPE Scholarship.
Perdue said university system officials will study the retention rates and academic success of students admitted to Georgia colleges in the fall of 2021 and fall of 2022 to determine if the test requirement should eventually be reinstated.
Football returns to Athens
Football seasons returns in earnest to Athens on Saturday as the second-ranked Georgia Bulldogs host the Samford Bulldogs at 4:00 p.m.
Samford Coach Chris Hatcher gave Georgia coach Kirby Smart his first job – that was as a defensive backs coach at Valdosta State, in the year 2000.