Governor’s June 29 Statewide Executive Order Extends Restrictions until July 15

A 40-page Executive Order from Governor Kemp issued on June 29 continues to require social distancing, bans gatherings of more than 50 people unless there is six feet between each person, outlines mandatory criteria for businesses, and requires sheltering in place for those living in long-term care facilities and the medically fragile.

The order runs through 11:59 p.m. on July 15, 2020 for the entire state. Read a PDF of the full order.

Some notes from the order:

• Provisions in the order are effective from July 1-15.
• All residents and visitors are strongly encouraged to wear face covers while outside of their homes or residences except when eating, drinking, or exercising.
• Sheltering in Place: Residents and visitors of Georgia should shelter in place if they meet any of the following categories:
  • Persons who live in a nursing home or long-term care facility
  • Persons who have chronic lung disease
  • Persons who have moderate to severe asthma
  • Persons who have severe heart disease
  • Persons who are immunocompromised
  • Persons, of any age, with class III or severe obesity
  • Persons diagnosed with the following underlying medical conditions: diabetes, liver disease, and persons with chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis
• Gatherings: Gatherings of more than 50 people are banned unless there is at least six feet between each person. This rule does not apply to critical infrastructure entities, incidental or transitory groupings, or cohabitating individuals.
• Critical Infrastructure shall implement measures to mitigate exposure and spread of COVID-19, which may include 16 measures in the order, and should implement 3 additional measures if practicable.
• Restaurants and dining services shall implement 35 measures.
• Businesses that are not Critical Infrastructure shall implement 20 measures and should implement 3 additional measures if practicable.
  • Food establishments shall also implement additional measures, which may include any of 11 listed in the order.
  • Gyms and fitness centers shall also implement 17 additional measures in addition to the 20 measures mentioned above.
  • Body art studios, estheticians, hair designers, persons licensed to practice massage therapy, and tanning facilities shall also implement an additional 11 measures to the 20 mentioned above.
  • Indoor movie theatres and cinemas shall also implement 7 additional measures to the 20 mentioned above. 
  • Bowling alleys shall also implement 8 additional measures to the 20 mentioned above.
  • Bars shall also implement 39 additional measures to the 20 mentioned above. Capacity is up to 50 people or 35% of total listed fire capacity, whichever is greater.
  • Amateur sports teams and organizations shall adhere to the 20 guidelines for non-Critical Infrastructure.
• Sports:
  • Professional sports teams and organizations must follow the rules and guidelines set by their respective leagues.
  • High school and collegiate teams and organizations must follow the rules and guidelines set by their applicable conferences or associations. 
  • Amateur sports teams and organizations must follow the criteria for non-critical infrastructure entities outlined in the order.
• Persons working outdoors without regular contact with other persons, such as delivery services, contractors, landscape businesses, and agricultural industry services shall only be required to practice social distancing and implement sanitation processes in the guidelines issued by the CDC.
• Amusement rides, traveling carnivals, water parks, circuses, and other temporary amusement rides shall implement 33 measures.
• Healthcare industry shall adhere to Critical Infrastructure guidelines.
• Summer school shall implement additional measures that may include 11 measures.
• Child care learning centers and family child learning homes under the jurisdiction of the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) allows DECAL staff-child ratios and shall also implement an additional 13 measures to the 20 mentioned above.
• Summer camps 
  • Summer camps shall also implement 33 measures and have some additional requirements. 
  • Campers and workers may not attend an overnight summer camp unless they have received a negative COVID-19 test within 12 days prior to starting camp.
• Conventions: Effective July 1, a “convention” may occur if it meets 21 specific requirements in addition to the requirements for non-critical infrastructure entities. 
• Live Performance Venues: 
  • Effective July 1, a “live performance venue” may reopen for business if it complies with specific criteria based on whether it is designated Tier I, II, or III based on capacity.
  • There are certain exceptions in the order for drive-in performances; private recording sessions, livestream performances, practices, fanless events, and rehearsals; and non-ticketed or free events.
  • “Live Performance Venue” means “any indoor or outdoor location that requires patrons to purchase a license to attend an event featuring live musical, dramatical, automotive, educational, or any other type of entertainment performed before in-person patrons.” 
  • The term does not include restaurants and dining rooms, banquet facilities, private event facilities, private reception venues, weddings, drive-in venues, or events held as part of a convention, and the term does not include outdoor recreational fields used for amateur sporting events.

Read a PDF of the full order issued on June 29

While the statewide order is in effect, all local ordinances that are more restrictive or less restrictive than the statewide order are suspended.

531 Positive Cases Confirmed in Athens-Clarke County, 15 Deaths

The state Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) case tracker (https://dph.georgia.gov/covid-19-daily-status-report) confirms 531 positive cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Athens-Clarke County with 15 deaths as of 3:00 p.m. on June 30.

The Daily Status Report is now updated once daily at 3:00 p.m. to allow time to process and validate laboratory and case reports.

If you view the data, please be sure to check the area showing the definitions of the information presented. Some have different meanings than what you may expect.

The 15 people who have died were ages 60-98. Eleven of those deaths occurred at a long-term care facility during March and April. For a daily report on long-term health care facilities in the state, visit the Georgia Department of Community Health’s website at dch.georgia.gov.

Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions such as heart or lung disease or diabetes are at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 and should always consult their healthcare provider if they are sick.