Gov. Kemp issues statewide Shelter in Place Executive Order

Governor Brian Kemp issued a statewide Shelter in Place Executive Order, Thursday evening. The order is effective starting at 6 p.m. Friday April 3, 2020 and will go until 11:59 p.m. on Monday April 13, 2020.

Business and professionals THAT must cease in-person operations and close to the public during this time include:

•Bars

•Nightclubs

•Gyms

•Fitness centers

•Bowling allies

•Theaters

•Live performance venues

•Operators of amusement parks

•Dine-in services at restaurants and private social clubs

•Estheticians (waxing, threading, eyelash extensions, cosmetic treatments)

•Hair designers

•Body art studios (also known as tattoo parlors)

•Beauty shops and salons (including home beauty shops and salons)

•Barber shops (including home barber shops)

•Cosmetology schools

•Hair design schools

•Barbering schools

•Esthetics schools

•Nail care schools

•Licensed massage therapists

All other entities may continue to operate subject to specific restrictions. Those restrictions vary depending on whether the entity is critical infrastructure. Critical infrastructure is if a business or organization will continue in-person operations; the state encourages implementation of 16 requirements. Non-critical infrastructure shall follow the social distancing rule, only engage in minimum basic operations, and meet 20 requirements. The definitions and requirements of critical and non-critical infrastructure can be found online at https://gov.georgia.gov/document/2020-proclamation/statewide-shelter-place-handout/download.

The basic rule of the order is all residents and visitors of Georgia are required to shelter in place in their residences from at 6 p.m. Friday April 3, 2020 through 11:59 p.m. on Monday April 13, 2020. “Shelter in place” means remaining in their residences and taking every possible precaution to limit social interaction to prevent the spread or infection of COVID-19.

There are exceptions to the basic rule which are a resident or visitor of Georgia is not required to shelter in place if they are: engaging in essential services, working in critical infrastructure, engaging in minimum basic operations, or performing necessary travel.

No county or municipal government is allowed to have more than 10 people gathered in a single location unless there is at least six feet between each person at all times. The Governor’s order supersedes all local ordinances to the extent that they conflict and states that no local ordinance can be more restrictive or less restrictive. At this time, the Governor has not deputized local law enforcement to enforce the order. State law enforcement with P.O.S.T. certification will be charged with enforcement.

For a full list of definitions and guidelines of the order go online to https://gov.georgia.gov/document/2020-proclamation/statewide-shelter-place-handout/download. For a copy of the full order go online to https://gov.georgia.gov/executive-action/executive-orders/2020-executive-orders.

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