Three things for November 16
1. Georgia Tech University creates COVID-19 risk assessment tool
Georgia Tech University recently created a tool designed to aid in planning events for the upcoming holidays. The interactive map shows the percentage of COVID-19 exposure risk involved in a specific county.
The COVID-19 Event Risk Assessment Planning Tool is a collaborative project led by Professor Joshua Weitz and Professor Clio Andris at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
“It’s fairly difficult for most people to figure out what it means when people say there are 100,000 COVID-19 infections today,” said Dr. Aroon Chande, a lead developer of the map. “It’s really hard to take that number and then directly say ‘oh maybe I shouldn’t do this activity.’”
Chande also said the tool is especially helpful for people unfamiliar with the COVID-19 status of the place they might visit during the holidays.
The interactive map can be viewed here.
2. FYP to host Operation Christmas Child
As the semester comes to an end, Lee University’s First Year Programs is hosting their annual Pack N’ Stack party for Operation Christmas Child tonight.
Due to the global pandemic, this event will be held for freshman and peer leaders only, and the times are coordinated individually per Gateway class.
This past weekend, First Baptist Church held their packing party. The shoeboxes provide for families in need and provide gifts for Christmas to those who might not otherwise get any.
To donate, either build a shoebox online or mail to the local office at 2650 Memorial Blvd., Suite B Murfreesboro, TN 37129.
3. Poll workers contract COVID-19
Poll workers in some states have contracted COVID-19 although precautions were taken to avoid an outbreak.
Although the cases cannot be directly tied to the polling places due to rapid outbreaks, the many infections among the poll workers could have been contracted through the polling places.
Georgia’s top election official was placed into quarantine after his wife contracted the virus. In Iowa, an election official who worked an early voting site tested positive for the virus.
Poll workers in Missouri seem to have been hit the hardest in this outbreak, with 28 staff members testing positive over the past few weeks.
