County Adopts COVID-19 Ordinance

In an emergency meeting last Friday afternoon, the Jeff Davis County Commission voted to adopt an ordinance that declares a state of emergency in the county beginning April 3 and continuing through April 13 or until the COVID-19 dangers are abated.
The ordinance closely follows a similar ordinance previously adopted by the City of Hazlehurst and includes Gov. Brian Kemp’s shelter-in-place order which directs all Georgia citizens to limit their travel to only essential businesses or places of work.
The governor’s order, which overrides restrictions local governments have adopted, allows Georgians to leave home to buy groceries, purchase medical equipment, go outside to exercise, head to doctor’s appointments, or travel for work to businesses or nonprofits that comply with other restrictions.
And it requires the temporary closure of many indoor facilities, including gyms, salons, theaters and amusement parks. It also bans dine-in service at restaurants but allows carry-out, curbside pickup and deliveries.
Businesses and other operations not considered “critical” under the guidelines must also provide alternative points of sale, increase physical space between employees and customers, and provide disinfectants for workers.
The order also permits residents to visit places of worship, so long as social-distancing guidelines and other restrictions are followed.
There are no limits on exercise, so long as social distancing is employed. Georgians can still visit state parks and play sports outside, including golf, though gatherings of more than 10 people are banned unless there’s at least six feet between each person.
Though the restrictions are set to expire in less than two weeks, the governor could extend them beyond that date if he renews a state public health emergency declaration that’s set to expire in mid-April.