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Athens-Clarke County response to COVID-19
Orignially posted on onlineathens.com
Posted Mar 16, 2020 at 10:08 PM
The Athens Clarke-County Commission passed a limited ban on public gatherings Monday but balked at imposing a curfew to halt the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The public gathering ban prohibits more than 10 people at establishments such as bars and restaurants, places of entertainment and gatherings on publicly owned property, including streets.
Commissioners rejected a broader ban that would also have applied to other public gatherings such as political rallies, weddings and church gatherings. The ban could be broadened later depending on research the commission asked Athens-Clarke County Attorney Judd Drake to do.
The commission could change the ban as soon as Tuesday, when it is scheduled to meet again to set an agenda for next month’s regular monthly meeting.
Commissioner Melissa Link questioned whether the Athens-Clarke government has the authority to enact the stronger ban.
Lee Shearer
@LeeShearer Posted 3/16/2020 at 1:54 PM
Athens-Clarke County will impose a 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew and limit public gatherings of 50 or more people to slow down the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.
Mayor Kelly Girtz scheduled an emergency meeting of the mayor and commission for Monday evening to approve the measures and to declare a state of emergency in the city.
The curfew will make it “unlawful for any person to travel, loiter, wander or stroll in or upon the public streets, highways, roads, lanes, parks, or other public grounds, public places, public buildings, places of amusement, eating places, vacant lots, or any other place during said declared emergency” between the hours of 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
The curfew will be “subject to certain exceptions and to provide for other purposes as may be necessary to preserve, protect and sustain the life, health, welfare and safety” of Athens citizens, according to the proposal.
The actions come as state Department of Public Health officials announced the third case of COVID-19 in Athens. State Department of Public Health on Sunday confirmed the first two diagnoses of the disease here. As of Monday, Georgia had recorded 121 cases in 23 counties, and one death.