Mayor Bottoms Unveils Detailed 5-Phase Plan To Reopen Atlanta

ATLANTA, GA — Although it’s been nearly a month since Gov. Brian Kemp reopened the state, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has announced the city will follow a five-phase plan and will reopen in stages.

Bottoms announced the plan Thursday night after conferring with the advisory council she announced last month. The plan does not include specific dates of when a new phase will begin, but instead, is “based on milestone metrics and recent data”, according to a news release issued by the city Thursday night.

The city, which is currently in the plan’s initial Stay At Home Phase, 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, the release stated.

Until then, Bottoms is urging residents to remain at home with the exception of essential trips, to wash their hands regularly, practice social distancing guidelines and to wear masks when in public. All nonessential businesses will remain closed during this phase.

Phase 2, known as “the easing” phase will allow private, small groups of 10 or fewer people to meet as long as social distancing guidelines are adhered to and would allow local retailers of offer to-go and curbside pickup service.

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.