When GA's Bars, Sports Teams, Live Performance Venues Can Resume

GEORGIA — More of Georgia's businesses will soon be able to reopen their doors after Gov. Brian Kemp announced Thursday when bars, nightclubs and amusement parks can reopen.

During a news conference Thursday, Kemp again extended the statewide public health state of emergency through July 12.

"It allows for advanced partnerships between our private and public sectors, for advanced infrastructure, procurement of supplies, and coordination across all levels of government," Kemp said. "As we continue to take measured steps forward, the public health state of emergency provides flexibility for a cohesive response across government and in our communities across the state."

Last month, Kemp allowed the statewide shelter-in-place order to expire, another easing of restrictions during the week when restaurants resumed dine-in service, and salons and spas were allowed to go back to work.

"Across the Peach State, businesses are reopening their doors with robust precautions in place and customers are slowly, but surely returning," Kemp said. "This progress is encouraging as we fight to stop the spread and revive our economy. But the status quo is never acceptable. We cannot rest on our laurels. From day one from this journey, we have used data, science and the advice of health-care professionals to chart our path forward."

Now, Kemp said the next step moving forward "puts the health and well-being of the citizenry first." His newest executive order extended certain safety precautions, but also eased others.

"Restrictions still remain intact to keep every Georgia business employee's and their customers safe," he said. "For several weeks now, gatherings of 10 or more people in a single location have been banned in Georgia unless there is 6 feet between each person. Given favorable data, we feel comfortable incrementally increasing that number to 25. Starting June 1, you can have gatherings of more than 25 people in a single location if you have at least 6 feet between each person."

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Small weddings, recreational sports and similar events will be able to resume with more flexibility, Kemp said. Live performance venues will remain closed.

Amusement parks, traveling carnivals, water parks, circuses and other temporary amusement rides will be able to resume operation on June 12. They must comply with 33 mandatory requirements, in addition to the guidelines for non-critical infrastructure businesses.

Overnight summer camps will be permitted in Georgia beginning May 31, if the organizations meet 33 specific criteria for reopening, in addition to the requirements for operating a non-critical infrastructure business.

On June 1, bars and nightclubs can reopen if they comply with "strict sanitation and social distancing rules all crafted to reflect industry practices and mitigate health risks," Kemp said. Bars and nightclubs must meet 39 mandatory measures to ensure patron well-being, including:

• Screening workers for illness
• Limiting the people in the building to 25 people or 35 percent of total occupancy
• Requiring the facility be thoroughly and regularly sanitized
• Only serving drinks to seated patrons or those in designated areas
• Limiting party sizes to six people
• Preventing patrons to congregating

For clarity, Kemp also said the state added banquet facilities, private event facilities and private reception venues to the category of restaurants and dine-in services, so they have clear directives for operating.

Professional and amateur sports teams which hold practices or other in-person operations are also now able to resume in Georgia. The professional teams will have to follow the respective guidelines from the national leagues, Kemp said. All amateur sports that will resume in-person operations must follow the guidelines for non-critical infrastructure organizations.

Starting next month, schools can start in-person summer school sessions if they comply with 11 guidelines, including screening workers and students for illness, enhancing campus sanitation and keeping students separated to minimize exposure.

"We know firsthand how important it is for some students to return to in-person instruction," Kemp said. "These measures will accomplish that goal without compromising safety."

The shelter-in-place order for medically fragile and elderly Georgians will continue through June 12, Kemp said. He is still urging Georgians to wear face masks when out in public.

At 1 p.m. Thursday, the Georgia Department of Public Health reported 523,359 tests for COVID-19, of which about 15 percent are the less reliable antibody tests. From those tests, Georgia reports 45,070 cases of COVID-19. That's about 9 percent positive, a slight increase from previous numbers.

Georgia has recorded 1,962 deaths from the coronavirus, with 7,767 hospitalizations and 1,761 admissions to an intensive-care unit.

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