Governor Kemp Extends Public Health State of Emergency

On August 31, 2020, Governor Brian Kemp renewed the State of Emergency. It now expires October 10, 2020, at 11:59 PM, unless it is renewed by the Governor.  

Governor Kemp Extends COVID-19 Restrictions, Addresses Long-Term Care Facility Visitation

Atlanta, GA – On September 15, 2020, Governor Brian P. Kemp signed Executive Order 09.15.20.01, extending current COVID-19 restrictions and issuing guidance for long-term care facility visitation. The new Executive Order takes effect on September 16 at 12:00 AM and runs through September 30 at 11:59 PM.

Under Executive Order 09.15.20, there are no changes to the mandatory restrictions in place for the operation of businesses, including food establishments, bars, cinemas, bowling alleys, salons, barbers, cosmetologists, amusement parks, live performance and event venues, childcare facilities, etc. The local option for requiring face coverings, subject to specific criteria, remains in place.

The shelter in place provisions for people who live in long-term care facilities and the medically fragile remain in place. The Order also continues to include a large gathering ban of fifty (50) persons unless social distancing is maintained.

The Order adds new language to clearly authorize community and state ombudsmen to perform inspections at long-term care facilities and - subject to specific criteria and restrictions outlined by the Department of Public Health - allow long-term care facilities to conduct in-person visitation in accordance with the DPH Administrative Order titled "Long-Term Care Facilities Reopening Guidance."

Click on the graphic on the left to download the file.

FUNERAL SERVICE PROFESSIONALS SHOULD NOTE:

All residents and visitors of the State of Georgia shall:

• Practice Social Distancing as defined herein and refrain from Gathering as defined herein
• Are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings as practicable while outside their homes or place of residence, except when eating, drinking or exercising outdoors.
• Practice sanitation in accordance with the guidelines published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• No business, establishment, corporation, non-profit corporation, organization, or county or municipal government shall allow Gatherings of persons. This provision shall not apply to cohabitating persons, family units, or roommates residing together in private homes, whether inside or outside of their homes or place of residence. This provision shall also not apply to entities defined as “Critical Infrastructure.”

II. Definitions

• “Gathering” shall mean more than fifty (50) persons physically present at a Single Location if, to be present, persons are required to stand or be seated within six (6) feet of any other person. Therefore, groups of more than fifty (50) people are permitted if their grouping is transitory or incidental, or if their grouping is the result of being spread across more than one Single Location. (Item 5)
• "Local Option Face Covering Requirement" shall mean a requirement imposed by a municipal, county, or other government entity that individual wear face masks or face covering when not able to maintain Social Distancing from non-cohabitating person that is permitted by the terms of this Executive Order. (Item 8)
• “Single Location” shall mean a space where all persons gathered cannot maintain at least six (6) feet of distance between themselves and any other person. (Item 15)
• “Social Distancing” shall mean keeping space between yourself and other people outside of your home or place of residence. Persons practicing Social Distancing should stay at least six (6) feet from other people, avoid assembling in groups, avoid crowded places, and avoid large crowds. This provision shall not apply to cohabitating persons, family units, or roommates residing together in private homes, whether inside or outside of their homes or place of residence. (Item 16)
• "Threshold Requirement" shall mean the prevalence in a county of confirmed cases of COVID-19 over the previous fourteen (14) days is equal to or greater than one hundred (100) cases per one hundred thousand (100,000) people according to the Georgia Department of Public Health. (Item 19) For more information review pages 40 - 42.

Critical Infrastructure that continue in-person operation during the effective dates of this Order shall implement measures to mitigate the exposure and spread of COVID-19.  

• Such measures may include, but shall not be limited to the items included in Section V. Industry, Commerce, Organizations & Non-Profits, which shall be implemented to the maximum extent practicable. 

Mortuary services are a Critical Infrastructure as determined by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). These businesses must continue to operate with social distancing and sanitation rules to keep customers and employees safe. Mortuary service providers, such as:

• Workers performing mortuary funeral, cremation, burial, cemetery, and related services, including funeral homes, crematoriums, cemetery workers, and coffin makers.
• Workers who coordinate with other organizations to ensure the proper recovery, handling, identification, transportation, tracking, storage, and disposal of human remains and personal effects; certify cause of death; and facilitate access to mental and behavioral health services to the family members, responders, and survivors of an incident.

Remember to review guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well.

Reporting of Issues of Non Compliance with Governor Kemp’s Executive Orders

COVID-19 Hotline: (844) 442-2681
The hotline can be used for asking about symptoms related to COVID-19, finding out if someone should get tested, reporting possible scams related to COVID-19, and alerting the state about non-compliant businesses. 

If you are reporting a possible violation of Governor Kemp’s Shelter in Place Order please contact: 

• Your local Sheriff’s Office
• Department of Natural Resources State Communications Center
• Department of Public Safety Troop Communications Center closest to you.

For all non-urgent requests, please continue to contact Constituent Services through their online form found HERE.