Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

The AGEG Board of Directors encourage all funeral service professionals to follow Federal and State orders, CDC and DPH guidance, and best practices. It is important to review guidance and information as it becomes available so you may continue to safely serve your families and community.

AGEG continues to monitor federal, state, and other agencies for new or revised information and guidance regarding COVID-19. While we do our best to post guidance and information in real time, the links will take you directly to the individual websites to ensure the most accurate and timely information is accessible.

AGEG members are updated by email and this page is updated as guidance and information becomes available.

For information and guidance, visit the links and drop down windows below.

COVID-19 Guidance and Information

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Stay Up to Date with Your Vaccines - January 16, 2022 - CLICK HERE
Types of Masks - January 14, 2022 - CLICK HERE
Duration of Isolation and Precautions for Adults with COVID-19 - January 14, 2022 - CLICK HERE
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) - January 14, 2022 - CLICK HERE
Selected Adverse Events Reported after COVID-19 Vaccination - January 12, 2022 - CLICK HERE
Key Things to Know About COVID-19 Vaccines - January 12, 2022 - CLICK HERE
Possible Side Effects After Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine - January 11, 2022 - CLICK HERE
Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination - January 11, 2022 - CLICK HERE
Quarantine and Isolation - January 9, 2022 - CLICK HERE
COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shot - January 7, 2022 - CLICK HERE
COVID-19 Vaccines for Moderately to Severely Immunocompromised People - January 7, 2022 - CLICK HERE
Information about the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine - January 7, 2022 - CLICK HERE
Different COVID-19 Vaccines - January 7, 2022 - CLICK HERE
Information about the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine - January 6, 2022 - CLICK HERE
CDC Expands Booster Shot Eligibility and Strengthens Recommendations for 12-17 Year Olds - January 5, 2022 - CLICK HERE
Test for Current Infection (Viral Test) - January 5, 2022 - CLICK HERE
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) - January 5, 2022 - CLICK HERE
CDC Recommends Pfizer Booster at 5 Months, Additional Primary Dose for Certain Immunocompromised Children - January 4, 2022 - CLICK HERE
What We Know About Quarantine and Isolation - January 4, 2022 - CLICK HERE
Quarantine and Isolation - January 4, 2022 - CLICK HERE
What to Expect at Your Appointment to Get Vaccinated for COVID-19 - January 4, 2022 - CLICK HERE
Understanding mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines - January 4, 2022 - CLICK HERE
Domestic Travel During COVID-19 - January 4, 2022 - CLICK HERE

Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH)

COVID-19 Mega-Testing Site Opening January 14 at The Home Depot Backyard - January 13, 2022 - CLICK HERE
DPH COVID-19 Daily Status Report Issues with ELR Identified and Resolved - January 10, 2022 - CLICK HERE
DPH Updates Guidance for the following - January 7, 2022

Quarantine if Exposed - CLICK HERE
Isolate if Sick - CLICK HERE
Identify Your Contacts - CLICK HERE

DPH Updates for Available Treatments - January 7, 2022 - CLICK HERE
DPH COVID-19 Daily Status Report Update January 7, 2022 - January 7, 2022 - CLICK HERE
DPH News Release - COVID-19 Mega Testing Sites Now Open - January 7, 2022 - CLICK HERE
DPH COVID-19 Daily Status Report Update - January 6, 2022 - CLICK HERE
DPH COVID-19 Daily Status Report Update - January 5, 2022 - CLICK HERE

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS)

OSHA Large Employer Vaccine Mandate Blocked by Supreme Court - January 13, 2022 - U.S. Supreme Court issued an order blocking OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard that would have required employees of large private companies (100 or more employees) to either get vaccinated or to test negative on a weekly basis. It did uphold the mandate for healthcare workers including all employees, contractors, and volunteers affiliated with covered entities, including employees of funeral service establishments who enter Medicare – and Medicaid – certified healthcare provider establishments (“Covered Establishments”).
Statement from Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh on Supreme Court ruling on OSHA emergency temporary standard on vaccination, testing - January 13, 2022 - CLICK HERE

Georgia Department of Public Health

CLICK HERE to be redirected to the DPH website.

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IF YOU ARE SICK OR EXPOSED TO COVID-19

If You're Sick or Exposed to COVID-19

Quarantine if Exposed
If you were exposed to someone with COVID-19, monitor your health for 10 days from your last possible exposure. If you have questions, please call 866-PUB-HLTH (866-782-4584). Quarantine Guidance (1/7/2022) CLICK HERE

Isolate if Sick
If you have tested positive for COVID-19 infection, you must follow home isolation protocol. If you have questions, please call 866-PUB-HLTH (866-782-4584). Isolation Guidance (1/7/2022) CLICK HERE

Identify Your Contacts
Each confirmed case of COVID-19 will work with trained DPH staff to identify everyone they've been in contact with to prevent additional spread of the disease. Contact Tracing CLICK HERE

Available Treatments

Oral Antiviral Medications - COVID-19 oral antiviral medications are currently available. These medications must be prescribed by a healthcare provider and are for treatment of mild-to-moderate, non-hospitalized persons with a positive COVID-19 test, who are at high risk for severe COVID-19. Download a PDF map / Find a Location

Monoclonal Antibody Treatments - The monoclonal antibody treatments are laboratory-made proteins that mimic the immune system’s ability to fight off harmful pathogens such as viruses. Monoclonal antibody treatments are given to help treat patients with COVID-19. LEARN MORE

COVID-19 TESTING

COVID-19 Testing in Georgia

Find a Testing Location

Commercial Testing Locations - CLICK HERE

DPH/Mako Test Sites - CLICK HERE

Viral Solutions Mega Sites - CLICK HERE

HHS Community-Based Testing - CLICK HERE

Commercial Testing Sites is provided and maintained by Castlight: COVID-19 Resource Center. These are private testing sites and are not endorsed, vetted, or managed by DPH. Individual test providers can set their own testing fee. Ask about the cost, availability, and requirements for testing when you call for an appointment.
DPH/Mako Test Sites is a partnership between DPH and Mako Medical to offer free COVID-19 testing events across Georgia.
Viral Solutions Test Sites is in partnership with DPH, DeKalb County Board of Health and Cobb & Douglas Health Department to operate COVID-19 mega-testing sites.
Community-Based Testing Sites is provided by HHS to find available health centers and pharmacies providing COVID-19 testing.

What Does My Test Mean?

Even with a negative test result, continue to practice standard safety protocol.

Interpreting Your Results

How Does COVID-19 Testing Work?

There are two different types of tests for COVID-19: viral tests and antibody tests.

COVID-19 Testing in Georgia

After You Are Tested

You should isolate yourself while you wait for test results. If you have a sample taken at one of these locations, it is essential to remain at home and away from other family members as much as possible to prevent the possible spread of disease.

Isolation and Quarantine Calculator

Learn more

COVID-19 International Travel Letter

Learn more

COVID-19 VACCINES

COVID-19 Vaccines

Georgia eligibility is now open for everyone 5 years of age and older for the COVID vaccine.

Note: Pfizer is the only COVID vaccine currently authorized for children aged 5 through 15,
and approved for 16 and 17-year-olds

CDC Recommends Pediatric COVID Vaccine for Children 5-11 Years Old

Following the recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) and health districts throughout Georgia are offering Pfizer pediatric COVID vaccine to children 5-11 years old.

The Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine is over 90% effective at preventing COVID-19 in children ages 5 through 11 years.
After getting a COVID-19 vaccine, children may have some side effects similar to those seen in adults and with other vaccines. The most common side effect was a sore arm.
Vaccinating children will help protect them from getting COVID-19 and reduce their risk of severe disease, hospitalization, or long-term COVID-19 complications.
Getting your children vaccinated can help protect them against COVID-19, as well as reduce disruptions to in-person learning and activities by helping curb community transmission.
COVID-19 vaccines have undergone—and continue to undergo—the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history.

To schedule an appointment, go to https://gta-vras.powerappsportals.us/ or https://vaccinefinder.org/.

Booster Dose of COVID Vaccine

COVID-19 boosters are currently available through the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) health districts and participating providers.

CDC recommends a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine for all persons aged 18 or older, at least 5 months after completion of a mRNA vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) primary series, or at least 2 months after receipt of the single primary dose Janssen vaccine. Eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. Some people may have a preference for the vaccine type that they originally received and others, may prefer to get a different booster. CDC’s recommendations now allow for this type of mix and match dosing for booster shots.

Adolescents aged 12-17 years may receive a single booster dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 at least 5 months after completion of the primary series. At this time, only the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is authorized and recommended for adolescents aged 12 through 17.

Not all types of vaccines will be available at all sites. For information about COVID vaccines or to schedule a vaccination appointment visit dph.ga.gov/covid-vaccine or vaccinefinder.org.

DPH continues to stress the importance of vaccination for all Georgians aged 5 years and older. Vaccination is our best tool to protect lives and stop the spread of COVID-19 in our state.

Health Department Scheduling - CLICK HERE

Vaccine Finder - CLICK HERE

Health Department Vaccine
Scheduling Resource Line

(888) 457-0186

Monday – Friday 8 AM – 8 PM ET
Saturday – Sunday 8 AM – 5 PM ET

"Languages other than English available."

At Home COVID-19 Vaccinations

Georgia residents who are currently sick, shut-in or homebound due to an ongoing physical or mental disability and are unable to travel to a COVID-19 vaccination site can request to receive vaccination at their home.

Please email HVS@dph.ga.gov or call (888) 572-0112 with the following information for the person who requires at-home vaccination:

Name
Date of birth
Address
City
County
Contact phone number

Georgia CORE

Providing free COVID-19 vaccines across the state with mobile units committed to reaching all Georgians.

Learn more

COVID-19 Resources for People
with Disabilities

Learn more

Georgia Vaccine Plan

Follow the plan for distribution and administration of the COVID-19 vaccine in Georgia.

COVID-19 Vaccine Plan

COVID-19 FUNERAL AND MORTUARY SCIENCE GUIDANCE

COVID-19 Funeral and Mortuary Science Guidance

The Georgia Department of Public Health has updated their guidance for Funeral Service. It is important to review the entire guidance, including infection control, general guidance, and additional resources. The updated DPH guidance may be viewed by opening the file to the right. We encourage you to print it for your staff. We have received numerous inquiries about the general guidance and have included it below for your quick reference.

General Guidance for Funerals

Attendees should stay 6 feet away from others, wear cloth face coverings, wash/sanitize hands frequently, and avoid direct contact like handshakes, hugging, and kissing at the service or funeral regardless of if a person is fully vaccinated* for COVID-19 or not to protect others who are not vaccinated.
There is currently no known risk associated with being in the same room at a funeral or visitation service with the body of someone who has died of COVID-19. However, people should consider not touching the body of someone who has died of COVID-19.
People who were in recent contact with the deceased and may have been exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19 should not attend unless they have been fully vaccinated* prior to their exposure.
People who are part of an at-risk group (people who are older or have severe underlying health conditions), should stay home unless they are fully vaccinated* for COVID-19. People in this group that are vaccinated should still social distance and wear face coverings.
People who feel sick should stay home.
Funeral homes should:

Consider offering livestreaming as an option for these services/viewings;
Discourage families from providing food or beverages;
Supply tissues and alcohol-based hand rubs for the families to use; and
Stock an adequate supply of soap and paper towels in the restrooms.

Ultimately, funeral homes should determine how to best balance this guidance with the needs of their families. Each funeral home should develop a plan to manage challenges presented by the current situation. COVID-19 is a novel illness, and health officials are still learning more about the disease as it continues to spread in our communities. Funeral home managers should stay up to date regarding current COVID-19 recommendations to protect their staff and families of the deceased.

*Fully vaccinated for COVID-19 means that 14 days have passed since an individual has received their second COVID-19 vaccine in a two dose COVID-19 vaccine series or their first vaccine in a one dose COVID-19 vaccine series.

COVID-19 Funeral and Mortuary Science Guidance

Updated April 12, 2021

STATE OFFICE OF VITAL RECORDS - DEATH CERTIFICATE GUIDANCE

Georgia State Office of Vital Records

CLICK HERE - Guidance from the State Registrar - COVID-19 Death Certificate Amendments - August 25, 2021

CLICK HERE - Guidance for Certifying COVID-19 Deaths - May 7, 2020

Governor Brian P. Kemp

CLICK HERE to be redirected to Governor Brian P. Kemp's website.

Executive Order

Renewal of State of Emergency for Continued COVID-19 Economic Recovery - December 17, 2021 - CLICK HERE

Additional State Resources

COVID-19: State Services in Georgia - CLICK HERE

Georgia Department of Economic Development: COVID-19 Updates and Information - November 24, 2021 - CLICK HERE

Federal & International Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - CLICK HERE

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) - CLICK HERE

CombatCOVID.hhs.gov - CLICK HERE

Coronavirus.gov - CLICK HERE

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) - CLICK HERE

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) - CLICK HERE

Federal Trade Commission - CLICK HERE

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) - CLICK HERE

COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) - CLICK HERE

About the ETS - CLICK HERE
ETS Summary - CLICK HERE
FAQs - CLICK HERE
Comment Period: The ETS on Vaccination and Testing was published in the Federal Register on November 5, 2021. The ETS also acts as a proposal for a permanent standard and OSHA has decided to extend the comment period for that rule by 45 days. Written comments on any aspect of the ETS must now be submitted by January 19, 2022 to www.regulations.gov in Docket number OSHA-2021-0007, which is the only way that OSHA is receiving comments on the ETS. Written comments on the information collection request as described in Section V.K. of the ETS preamble [2021-23643] must still be submitted by January 4, 2022 in Docket number OSHA-2021-0008.
Statement from Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh on Supreme Court ruling on OSHA emergency temporary standard on vaccination, testing - January 13, 2022 - CLICK HERE

The National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) - CLICK HERE

Counterfeit Respirators / Misrepresentation of NIOSH-Approval - CLICK HERE
The Respiratory Protection Information Trusted Source - CLICK HERE
Personal Protective Equipment EUAs - CLICK HERE

U.S. Food and Drug Administration - CLICK HERE

U.S. Small Business Administration - CLICK HERE

USA.gov/Coronavirus - CLICK HERE

WhiteHouse.gov - CLICK HERE

World Health Organization (WHO) - CLICK HERE

AGEG provides COVID-19 information as a service to funeral service professionals. AGEG Members receive AGEG News emails directly with guidance, information and resources critical to their business during the pandemic.

If you are not an AGEG member and have found the information useful, we hope you will join. CLICK HERE for our 2021 membership form or contact the AGEG office.

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