Atlanta To Begin Phase 2 Of Reopening Plan: Mayor

ATLANTA, GA — Atlanta is ready to transition from its “Stay At Home Phase” to phase 2 of the
city’s reopening plan. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms first announced the 5-phase plan last Thursday.

The plan doesn’t say when the new phase will begin, but that the decision was made based on metrics and recent data.

Bottoms said as of May 24, Atlanta has sustained the “necessary 14-day downward trend in COVID-19 new cases, hospitalizations, and percent of positive test cases while maintaining sufficient hospital and critical care bed capacity to progress into Phase 2, the 'Easing' phase.”

Last Thursday, Bottoms said that Atlanta could move to Phase 2 as early as next week if new coronavirus cases and hospitalizations continue on a downward trend over a 14-day period.

As the city moves from phase to phase, city officials have created a COVID-19 Atlanta Reopening Dashboard, which will allow the public to track the metrics officials will use.
City officials announced Phase 2 does not include the reopening of City Hall. The city also unveiled details of what will be allowed in each phase of the mayor's plan.

The city proposed the following guidelines for phase 2:

Individuals:

• Stay home except for essential trips
• Wear face coverings in public
• Frequent hand washing
• Social distancing
• Small, private gatherings of no more than 10 people, with social distancing

Businesses/Non-Profits:

• To-go and curbside pickups from restaurants and retail establishments
• Continue practicing teleworking
• Frequent cleaning of public and high touch areas

City Government:

• Non-essential City facilities remain closed
• Continue moratorium on special event applications

This phase does not include reopening the City of Atlanta government facilities, Bottoms said.

“As we continue to monitor the effects of COVID-19, we are now prioritizing a safe transition into Phase 2 of our reopening plan,” Bottoms said. “Data shows that we are in a position to move forward. We encourage Atlantans citywide to continue to follow all precautionary guidelines as community transmission of COVID-19 still poses a threat to our city. As One Atlanta, we will continue to examine data developments and keep the necessities of cautiousness and vigilance at the forefront of our decision-making for the well-being of all those that call Atlanta home.”