CLARKE COUNTY, Ga. — The Athens-Clarke County Courthouse will be closed through Friday while exterminators treat the facility for bed bugs.
Superior Court Chief Judge Eric Norris said he was informed of the infestation through a text message Tuesday. He and other court officials decided to close the building through the end of the week.
That means most judicial activities, such as trials and hearings, are postponed.
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But it will remain open with limited staff for temporary protective orders and other emergency matters.
“As far as hearings and things of that nature, we can just reset those,” Norris said. “There’s a lot of technology we can use with remote hearings. That’s a great thing we learned through the pandemic – you can do a lot of things remotely.”
It’s unclear how the bed bugs got inside, but exterminators will be working to rid the courthouse of the pests. “We have no idea if it was brought in by a person, by a bag,” Norris said. “I think we’ve learned that bed bugs like to travel and hitchhike and attach to whatever and drop off where they can.”
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Officials said evidence of the bed bugs was found on the first three floors of the courthouse.
Michelle Wills accompanied her father who was trying to take care of a speeding ticket, but both were told they’d have to return later.
“I thought it was crazy and I just don’t understand how a courthouse gets bed bugs,” Wills said.
But the Centers for Disease Control says the bugs can show up anywhere.
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They’re tiny insects that feed on the blood of people while they sleep, but they are not known to spread disease.
They are a nuisance, however, causing itchy bites.
The courthouse is expected to reopen Monday, Feb. 20, and additional entry measures may be required for employees and visitors.
For more information about bed bugs, click here.
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