Coronavirus In Decatur: Restaurants Open, Cases In Town

DECATUR, GA — The coronavirus pandemic continues to affect the metro Atlanta area in cities like Decatur. Schools are closed as students learn through virtual classrooms, nonessential businesses have been ordered to temporarily close and more, as a way to prevent the risk of COVID-19 spreading.

New numbers released at noon Wednesday show that 31 more people have died of coronavirus in Georgia, the Georgia Department of Public Health said. The updated tally reflects an increase of more than 800 cases from noon on Tuesday, bringing the total to 4,638, and 31 additional deaths, bringing the total to 139. There are currently 952 people hospitalized from coronavirus.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Fulton County's 624 cases are the most of any Georgia locality. The next highest totals are 480 in Dougherty County, DeKalb with 365 cases, Cobb with 293 cases, Gwinnett with 250 cases, Bartow with 144 cases, Carroll with 131 cases and Clayton with 122 cases.

Of those counties, Dougherty has the most deaths in the state with 27. Fulton has had 19 deaths, Cobb had 15, Lee has had seven, Clarke had five, Gwinnett, DeKalb, Bartow, Cherokee, Fayette, and Houston each had four, Clayton had three, and Henry, Douglas, Coweta, Terrell, Rockdale, Floyd, Sumter, Chatham, and Barrow each had two deaths.

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Here is what happened Wednesday in Georgia: GA Coronavirus: 31 New Deaths, Nearly 1,000 Hospitalized

DECATUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Gov. Brian Kemp ordered Georgia public schools to remain closed through April 24 due to the coronavirus. The governor says he will make a decision on the remainder of the school year before that date.

Spring Break will be observed April 6-10 as planned for Decatur Public Schools, according to the district. Meals will be served during the extended closure, but not during spring break.

Decisions regarding events such as prom, graduation, and other end-of-the-year celebrations will be made at a later date and in the best interest of families and students, they said. Any events scheduled before April 24 are canceled with the exception of virtual events.

CITY OF DECATUR

Fewer than 10 people are allowed in nonessential businesses that require direct human contact like nail salon services, beauty salon services, massage services and churches .

Early voting has been suspended. The Georgia Presidential Preference Primary and Special Election is now scheduled for May 19. For details on voting, visit the Secretary of State website.

• City of Decatur office buildings are closed to the public.
• Decatur Visitors Center is closed until further notice.
• Ebster and Decatur Recreation Centers are closed until further notice.
• Oakhurst Indoor Pool are closed until further notice.
• Glenlake Tennis Center is closed until further notice.
• Playgrounds are off-limits until further notice.
• After school activities are canceled until further notice.
• Decatur libraries are closed until further notice.

POLICE

• Patrol functions and response to 911 calls will operate as normal.
• Incident reports that do not involve a suspect present at a scene or the processing of evidence will be handled by phone.
• The Police Department is closed to the public. If an in-person visit in needed, people are instructed to press the button on the intercom at the front door and an officer will meet them.
• Open records requests for police matters should be made via email to Deputy Chief Scott Richards at scott.richards@decaturga.com.
• The police are urging people to obtain accident reports through https://buycrash.com/.
• Background check services, alcohol server permits and door-to-door solicitation permits are not being provided at this time.
• All classes, meetings, events, ride-a-longs and tours are temporarily suspended until further notice.

For all non-emergency questions and concerns call 404-373-6551.

Sanitation and Recycling services will remain as scheduled with the following exceptions beginning Thursday, March 19:

• Curbside pickup only. People can call 404-377-5571 if they are unable to bring trash to the curb.
• Curbside collection of yard waste has been suspended during the COVID-19 emergency. People are being asked to not place bundled and bagged yard waste at the curb until further notice. Instead, they are asked to identify a place on their property away from roads, creeks, and drainage ditches to store any collected materials until curbside collection of leaves, sticks, and grass clippings resumes.
• Neighborhood Clean Up days have been rescheduled for the fall.

Georgia Aquarium: Closed
Children's Museum of Atlanta: Closed
Gym: Closed

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