ATLANTA — Gov. Brian Kemp announced Monday that Georgia would begin gradually reopening as soon as Friday, making the state one of the first in the nation to take concrete action to reestablish public life.
It will be a staggered reopening, however, one that reintroduces certain businesses at certain times - with others (like bars and night clubs) that do not yet have any timetable for being allowed to reopen.
Kemp also made note that the businesses allowed to reopen would have to follow minimal basic operations rules that include, but are not limited to:
- screening workers for fever and respiratory illness
- enhancing workplace sanitation
- wearing gloves and masks if appropriate
- separating workspaces by at least six feet
- teleworking where at all possible
- implementing staggered shifts
Here are some of the specifics about what will open when, based on the governor's announcement:
What's allowed to open in Georgia?
Friday, April 24
- Gyms and fitness centers
- bowling alleys
- body art studios
- barbers, cosmetologists, and hair designers
- nail care artists
- estheticians and their respective schools
- massage therapists
Monday, April 27
Subject to specific social distancing and sanitation mandates, Gov. Kemp named another list of businesses that can reopen.
- Theaters
- private social clubs
- restaurant dine-in service
If you're wondering about other types of public places such as shopping/dining complexes like Ponce City Market, retail stores, bars, concert venues - they're not going to open yet.
It's not clear when the governor will issue guidance for the range of other businesses that will still be waiting things out.
"In the days ahead, we will be evaluating the data and conferring with public health officials to determine the best course of action for those establishments," Kemp said.
It's also not clear if, to keep some of those high-volume businesses closed longer, the governor will need to issue another shelter-in-place order of any kind. He said he will allow the current one to expire on April 30. For medically fragile and elderly Georgians, Kemp said to make plans to shelter in place at least through May 13.
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