The Latest On COVID’S Impact on Metro Atlanta
It’s been six months since the health crisis hit metro Atlanta and phrases like “social distancing,” “Zoom calls,” and “work from home” became part of everyday conversation. So much has happened, and the situation remains highly fluid. It can be hard to keep up.
Lucky for us, the data experts at the Atlanta Regional Commission are keeping close watch and providing regular updates.
State of the Virus
Good news: Total cases in metro Atlanta have fallen sharply in the past few weeks after reaching a peak in August. But – yes, there’s a but –the case numbers appear to be leveling off at around the 500 mark. This is something to keep a close watch on in the coming weeks, especially as school systems in the area consider bringing kids back to the classroom.
How COVID is Affecting People’s Behavior
We are continuing to stay home more than we did before the pandemic, but we’re getting out more than we did at the height of the lockdown, in April. Teleworking may be with us after the pandemic fades. A survey conducted in August by Georgia Commute Options found that 60% of employees want to telework three or more days per week in the future, compared to 38% in GCO’s April survey.
COVID’s Impact on Metro Atlanta’s Economy
Let’s start with the bottom line: Things are getting better in the Atlanta region. People are hiring again. Layoffs continue to decline but are still occurring, complicating the recovery timeline. There’s no doubt that the pandemic has caused a blow to the region’s economy. Metro Atlanta has seen employment drop by 5.5%, according to federal labor data (June 2020 compared to June 2019). That’s better than the national job loss average of nearly 9%. OK, here’s the bad news: Low-wage workers (those making less than $27,000 a year) in the region have been hit the hardest, with employment rates dropping by 18 percent, compared to 13% for middle wage workers and 1% for those earning more than $60,000.
How MARTA Is Keeping Riders Safe
From anti-microbial air filters to frequent cleaning, MARTA is taking multiple steps to make your transit ride as safe as possible. MARTA has released an updated “Keeping You Safe” video series that summarizes all of the methods that MARTA is using to keep riders safe. MARTA is requesting that passengers assess their own health and avoid riding transit if ill or possibly exposed to the coronavirus and is requiring that all riders wear masks.
