New DeKalb Order Urges People To Wear Face Masks: GA Coronavirus

DEKALB COUNTY, GA — DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond issued an executive order Thursday for residents and businesses in response to the new coronavirus. The order is effective May 1 at 12 a.m. until May 31 at 11:59 p.m.

“As we address the health issues of the pandemic, we cannot ignore the economic impact,” Thurmond said in a public statement. “Even as we flatten the curve, we cannot become overly comfortable and walk away from strategies that have worked so far.”

In the order, residents are urged to wear face masks or cloth covering in public. Those 65 and older, reside in nursing or long-term care facilities or who are medically fragile, are urged to stay at home unless seeking medical care.

For businesses, the order reiterates Gov. Brian Kemp’s 20 statewide reopening mandates, but encourages businesses to take an additional nine steps.

“The path forward maintains mitigation efforts that have begun to show success to protect the health of our citizens and begin to restore our economy,” Thurmond said. “We will do the right thing.”

Utilizing strategies in place by DeKalb County Government, the order advises businesses to enhance operations by:

• Requiring workers to report when a member of their household is ill and not report to work.
• Considering implementing additional front-line pay and expanding leave policies while the state is under an emergency declaration.
• Encouraging patrons to wear cloth face covers at all times.
• Obtaining adequate personal protective equipment without interfering with supply to healthcare workers.
• Enhancing sanitation practices, including frequent daily cleaning of public spaces.

Houses of worship are encouraged to continue providing remote and physically distant services.

The order also requests the Georgia Department of Public Health to expand testing and contact tracing prior to the end of May. It also urges the governor, General Assembly and DPH to assist and support an investigation of the COVID-19 outbreak in southwest Georgia and the disproportionate impact on African American and other communities of color in DeKalb and the state.

“There is no genetic connection to people of color,” Thurmond said. “COVID-19 is an equal opportunity killer.

DeKalb County expects to receive $132.5 million in federal relief funds from the CARES program.

Click to view the full executive order.