Coronavirus: Shelter In Place Begins for Cumming

CUMMING, GA — 21 more people have died of the coronavirus in Georgia as of Friday. The news brings the dealt toll to 184 deaths total. Meanwhile a total of 5,831 patients are confirmed to have the virus, of which 1,158 are hospitalized for emergency treatment.

As the coronavirus threat grew, Gov. Brian Kemp ordered a shelter in place order beginning Friday afternoon and running through at least April 13. Under the order, everyone except essential workers must remain home, and should not leave unless they are gathering to get important supplies, food, or see a doctor. Residents can also go out on walks or jogs but must keep at least six feet away from each other.

Related: What You Can, Can't Do Under Georgia's Stay At Home Order

Cases in Forysth County

As of the latest update at noon on Friday, Forsyth county is reporting 60 cases of the coronavirus and one death. The victim has only been identified as an 87-year-old man.

Cumming cancels social distancing order

Just hours after the City of Cumming's social distancing order was issued, the mayor called it off. The order had gone into effect midnight of April 1, requiring residents to practice safe social distancing and keeping six feet from one another.

However, the order also allowed the city to swear up to 150 "special policemen" to enforce safe social distancing, a move that drew public ire. Anyone caught by the policemen could face up to a thousand dollar fine or 6 months in jail.

After public backlash, Mayor Troy Brumbalow rescinded the order just three hours after it went into effect. Instead, Brumbalow created a second order without the extra police force. He says the intent was just to encourage social distancing, but the focus now will just be on keeping residents informed on the best safety habits.

Despite the social distancing order's cancellation, the statewide shelter in place order is now in effect, and has many of the same regulations.

New directory for open or closed businesses

There's been widespread confusion over what is and isn't closed by the coronavirus pandemic. To help, Patch has set up a simple open-or-closed directory to help business owners share their status with customers.

Businesses who want to report their status can find more information here. We're going to publish the directory on Patch, in our local email newsletters and on our local Facebook pages to ensure that as many community members as possible know the status of your business.
Meanwhile customers who want to know if their favorite local businesses are still up and running can find the directory here.

Other local news, closures and changes

• The City of Cumming has extended the period of closure of all city-owned and operated facilities to the public through April 10. Click here for a list of all City of Cumming contact information.

• The City of Cumming Recreation Department has extended its suspension of programs through April 26. Click here for full information about the extension of closures and suspensions.
• Through March 31, the City of Cumming will restrict public access to all City of Cumming owned and operated buildings and facilities. Click here for complete information about the restrictions to the public, and click here for a listing of City of Cumming contact information.
• All Cumming Fairgrounds events that were scheduled during the month of March have been canceled or postponed. Future events will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and future cancellations/postponements will be posted.
• As of March 16, all future scheduled meetings of the Cumming City Council and Planning & Zoning Boards will proceed as normal.
• The Cumming Chapter 1030 of the Vietnam Veterans of America has extended its deadline for submission of its annual college scholarships. With schools closed due to coronavirus concerns and some students without access to computers, the VVA has extended until April 30 its deadline for postmarking scholarship applications. Chapter 1030 will be awarding five $1,500 scholarships to graduating seniors attending Forsyth County public and private high schools. Applications should be available at school guidance counselors' offices or by contacting scholarship chairman Marty Farrell at martysyracuse@yahoo.com or by calling 770 500-7234. Scholarships are awarded to honor the service and sacrifice of Georgians killed in action during the Vietnam War.
• Forsyth County Board of Commissioners Chairman Laura Semanson has signed a declaration of local emergency, effective March 18.
• On March 20, Semanson signed an urgent declaration regarding gatherings. The statement reads in part, " . . . all Forsyth County citizens and residents are requested, in the most urgent terms, to avoid holding, sponsoring, or attending non-mandatory assemblies or gatherings of 10 or more individuals for so long as Forsyth County remains in a state of locally declared emergency."