GA Coronavirus: Businesses, Churches Share How They're Impacted

ATLANTA, GA — It’s been two months since news of the coronavirus emerged and city officials nationwide have taken measures to protect people. With restaurants removing dine in options, sports seasons postponed, and gyms and city offices closing to the public, life has changed for everyone.

Virginia Lazala, co-owner of Kika Stretch Studios - Vinings announced Wednesday that she and her husband decided to temporarily close the business due to the risk of the coronavirus. In an email to members, the business stated:

“After much deliberation, our studio will be temporarily suspending operations beginning Thursday, March 19 through Wednesday, April 1 in response to concerns over COVID-19.

This has been a difficult decision, but the health and safety of our coaches and clients continues to be our highest priority. Closing is our civic duty. We will continue to evaluate this rapidly evolving situation and follow recommendations from local health authorities on a timeline for reopening…”

Employees will continue to get paid during the closure. The email continues:

“Like all of you, we don't know what's going to happen next. We do know that these will be difficult times for all of us and especially for those who depend on their job at the studio. Therefore, studio employees will continue to be paid during our temporary closure.”

Lazala, who is married with two adult children, told Patch that she and her family are doing well and practicing social distancing.

“We’re not in denial,” she said. “We’re not going to restaurants, we’re ordering take out to keep the economy flowing, but we are being very serious about this.”

They kept the studio open for as long as they could, Lazala said, even with the cancellations. They wanted to help people relieve stress during these “extremely stressful times.”

She’s urging people to take the health officials' advice.

“We can’t be the usual selfish beings that we tend to be,” she said. “We have to take care of each other. This is not about personal freedom. We need to worry about each other because while you may feel good and be in great health, you don’t know about the person next to you who has a compromising immune system or who is going to go visit an elderly grandparent.”

Lazala is also asking people to remember small businesses. If they can still patronize them, do so, if not, support when they re-open.

“When all of this is over, I’d like to see all of those small businesses come back to life and thrive.”

Marcy Meier Braselton, owner of Community Kitchen in Atlanta, said that her business has taken a hit too. Major events and jobs have been postponed indefinitely, she said.

She and her family are adjusting to the “new normal.”

“With no end in sight, we are taking it day by day,” she told Patch. “My husband and I are fortunate enough to easily work from home. My children are both teenagers in high school and the transition to ‘virtual learning’ has gone smoothly.”

They’ve stocked up on food and other essentials, while practicing social distancing. Mayor Bottom’s large gathering of 50 people ban in Atlanta was “inevitable” Meier Braselton said, but a wise decision.

“I’m worried that a mandatory quarantine will be put in place soon, but if that is what it takes to reduce the spread of the virus, I support that decision,” she said. “Never in my lifetime could I have imagined this scenario unfolding across the world. I think this experience will redefine ‘normal’ for many of us.”

They’ve been helping other family and neighbors in need, she said.

Rock Steady, Midtown's newest Afro-Caribbean restaurant, announced Monday on Instagram that it's temporarily closed due to the risk of the coronavirus.

"With a heavy heart, we’ve decided to temporarily close the restaurant starting today 3/16/20. Based on the advice of numerous public health officials, it would be irresponsible for us to continue operating as normal," they wrote.

The owners thanked everyone for the support, saying this is a "challenging time" for all. The safety of guests, team members, and the community is most important they said. Information on their re-opening date will be shared through social media.

"We look forward to welcoming and serving you again as always. Please take care of yourselves. We’re in this together.

 Bless Up,

 Rock Steady Crew."

While businesses and families are being affected, churches aren’t excluded.

Peace Baptist Church, 4000 Covington Highway, located in Decatur has about 3,000 members, said Executive Pastor Darron Randolph. Last Sunday there was a drastic decline in attendance.

“We had two services and with both, less than half of the people we normally see were present,” Randolph said. More people are taking precaution and streaming service online, he said.

The church decided to not hold physical service this upcoming Sunday, but will continue serving the community, Randolph said.

Its ministers have already begun reaching out to the church’s senior members. Someone will conduct weekly check ins.

“They are the type who doesn’t like to be isolated,” Randolph said. “We want to make sure that we are letting them know that we care for them, that we love them and we’re here to help them.”

Peace Baptist Church has always been a resource for the community and Randolph said he expects to see more requests for help in the coming weeks. The church’s Feed The Need program, in partnership with the Atlanta Food Bank, is still set for Tuesdays and Fridays.

“We’re still able to feed the community,” Randolph said. “We will still be working as a staff, checking our voicemails, answering our calls. We are the church that’s open normally every day of the week. It’s going to be difficult for us to not be open, but we are still providing service.”

He said he hopes people take this time to set aside their differences and come together.

“I remember 9/11,” Randolph said. “After it hit, people came together like never before. This is a world wide crisis here. It can have a profound effect on the way we live if it’s not contained properly. I think more than anything, this is the right time for us to get out of me, my and mine and just start thinking about someone else.”

Globally, more than 222,000 people have been infected and more than 9,100 people have died from the COVID-19, Johns Hopkins reported Thursday. Of that total, more than 81,000 confirmed cases are in China, while the entire United States has 9,400 confirmed cases as of Thursday. There have been 150 deaths in the U.S. tied to the virus outbreak.