Gov. Kemp Orders Georgia Restaurants Can Reopen Dining Rooms Monday, April 27

Gyms, bowling alleys, salons and other indoor facilities can resume operations as early as Friday contingent on compliance with soon-to-be-released state guidelines.

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Gov. Brian Kemp Monday during a press conference announced plans to begin reopening Georgia’s businesses starting with gyms, bowling alleys, salons, and some other indoor facilities as early as Friday, April 24.

“Due to favorable data and more testing, gyms, fitness centers, bowling alleys, body art studios, barbers, cosmetologists, hair designers, nail care artists, estheticians, their respective schools and massage therapists can reopen Friday, April 24 with Minimum Basic Operations,” Kemp’s office tweeted Monday.

The state’s “Minimum Basic Operations” includes, but is not limited to, screening workers for fever and respiratory illness, enhancing workplace sanitation, wearing masks and gloves if appropriate, separating workspaces by six feet, teleworking if possible and implementing staggered shifts.

Bars, nightclubs, operators of amusement park rides and live performance venues will remain closed.

Restauranteurs will be able to open their restaurant dining rooms shortly after on Monday, April 27, and theatres will be permitted to show flicks again.

“Subject to specific social distancing and sanitation mandates, theatres, private social clubs, and restaurant dine-in services, will be allowed to reopen on Monday, April 27,” another tweet confirmed.

“We’ll release more information in the next few days.”

These non-essential businesses in early-April were forced to temporarily close by state mandate, and the “shelter-in-place” order remains in effect through April 30 with an extension for the “medically fragile” through May 13.

Specifics of the reopening plan, expected to be released later in the week, are contingent on compliance with social distancing requirements and other safety standards, which will be shared alongside the reopening details.

Developing…


[Editor’s note: The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is rapidly evolving as is its effect on Atlanta, and the City’s businesses and its residents. Click here for What Now Atlanta’s ongoing coverage of the crisis. For guidance and updates on the pandemic, please visit the C.D.C. website.]

Caleb J. Spivak

Caleb J. Spivak

Caleb J. Spivak

Caleb J. Spivak

7 Responses

  1. When will all of the places and all of the nightclubs and bars and restaurants and beaches and parks and places like that reopen?

  2. Thanks for taking one for the team, Georgians. The spike in infections and deaths will teach us a lot about this disease.

  3. I’m not sure Kemp has read the federal government’s “Guidelines Opening Up America Again“ that dictates how each state moves through the three phases. I have seen zero evidence that Georgia meets any of the Gating Criteria. Specifically, “Downward trajectory of positive tests as a percent of total tests within a 14-day period.”

  4. TOO SOON. I don’t trust most of my fellow Atlantans to follow whatever guidelines this idiot produces. I saw too many pictures of people cramming themselves together on the Beltline the first warm weekend we had and, at one particular bar near me, there were probably 50 people hanging out on the patio drinking a few weekends ago, spilling out into the parking lot it was so full. They weren’t six feet apart, either. I know people want to get back to work, but at what price?? I’ll keep on doing what I’ve been doing and stay the hell home.

  5. What Now Atlanta, indeed? Is that a rhetorical question or can I answer?

    I’m gonna say rampant unnecessary spread of serious virus, increased illness/death and needless overwhelming of an already stretched medical system followed by further economic hardship…..

    My husband says this governor makes him feel like a lab rat and we got the placebo….the placebo governor.

  6. He needs to visit the first tatoo parlor that opens and get D.A. right in the middle of his forehead. It is going to be a challenge to get my nails done wearing gloves and sitting 6 feet apart. LMAO. Keep praying and stay home until the medical and scientific community have some input. History will not be kind but it will be truthful.

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