ATLANTA — UPDATE: Gov. Brian Kemp has signed his statewide shelter-in-place order, which overrides previous orders issued by local governments.
Since COVID-19 has hit the nation, Georgia officials have been implementing guidelines to try to slow down the virus.
Counties across the state are also doing their part. Some local governments have issued restrictions, bans, and have ordered residents to stay home. This is in addition to the executive order Gov. Brian Kemp issued requiring certain individuals with increased risk for complications from COVID-19 to isolate, quarantine or shelter in place. He also ordered all bars and clubs to close.
Governor Kemp also announced a statewide county-by-county shelter-in-place order that will be from April 3 through April 13. The details of this order have not been released.
11Alive is focused on providing viewers facts, not fear, about the pandemic.
Here’s a list of what some Georgia counties in metro Atlanta are doing to help protect residents. It's important to note that some cities also have their own executive orders and restrictions in place. Check their official websites for details.
Barrow County
Barrow County officials said effective Friday, March 20, public access to all county facilities, with the exception of the Judicial Courthouse which is operating under the provisions of a Judicial Emergency Declaration, will be closed to public access until further notice. They amended the order on March 27, saying all residents should self-isolate in their places of residence "to the maximum extent feasible." See more on the county website.
Bartow County
Bartow County officials temporarily suspended all non-essential functions and recreational activities until further notice. Read more here.
Butts County
Officials in Butts County signed an amended local state of emergency declaration which supersedes the declaration passed on March 18t. The order bans any public gathering of more than 10 people, forces all restaurants to close their dining rooms and all bars and clubs should be closed. Read more here.
Carroll County
The Carroll County Board of Health passed an emergency order which is in effect from March 25 until April 12, unless it is extended.
The county is also asking residents to shelter-in-place. Some reasons you would leave your home are to get food, to receive medical services, to go to work if your work is considered “essential,” to take your children to and from childcare, and to help people you care for get the things they need to live and be healthy and safe.
There are other things included in the order. Read more here.
Cherokee County
The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners has closed government offices to the public. This started on March 18 and will last until March 31. Read more here.
Clarke County
Athens-Clarke County is currently under a local emergency declaration in order to help slow the spread of coronavirus in the community. Residents are required to shelter-in-place 24/7 aside from essential activities, essential governmental functions, or to operate essential businesses until April 7. For more, visit the county's website.
Clayton County
As part of an emergency declaration, all Clayton County Government and Administrative Offices are closed through April 12. All parks and recreational facilities are also closed. Read more here.
Cobb County
A shelter in place order has been declared for all residents. Starting at 12 p.m. on March 25, 2020, and continuing until April 24, 2020, public gatherings — whether inside or outdoors — of more than 10 people are prohibited anywhere in the county. The county has closed all parks and recreation buildings until further notice. Get more details here.
Coweta County
The Coweta County Board of Commissioners has declared a local state of emergency, which goes into effect at 8 a.m. on Thursday, March 26 and will last until noon on Wednesday, April 8.
Gatherings of more than 10 people are prohibited. They are asking residents to consider voluntarily sheltering at home. Nothing in the ordinance prohibits “essential business.”
Dine-in services at restaurants are banned, but delivery and takeout is allowed. Gyms, fitness centers, pools, and some other facilities must close. Find out more about the declaration here.
Dawson County
The Dawson County Board of Commissioners approved an emergency resolution on March 19.
The resolution establishes provisions to govern the operation of the county during the pandemic. Get updates from the county on its website.
DeKalb County
DeKalb County officials issued a shelter-in-place order that goes into effect Saturday, March 28 at 9 p.m.
The order states that individuals are permitted to leave their places of residence only to provide or receive certain essential services or engage in certain essential activities and work for essential businesses and essential governmental functions. Read more here.
Douglas County
On March 27, the Douglas County Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 to adopt an emergency ordinance from the county's board of health.This is expected to last through April 10.
Gatherings are limited to 10 people.
All businesses are allowed to function,subject to public health best practices. Non-essential businesses can operate from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. Non-essential businesses are allowed to restock and handle logistics post hours.
Essential businesses are exempt from any time requirements but are encouraged to use best health practices. Get more details on the county's website to find out what is allowed.
Fayette County
Fayette County officials closed its offices to the public on March 16 and they will remain closed through March 27. Staff is still working and county services are still operational. Read more here.
Forsyth County
The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners signed a declaration of local emergency, effective March 18.
The declaration calls for all available resources of the county to be used as necessary to cope with the impact of COVID-19 in Forsyth County. Get more details here.
Fulton County
The Fulton County Board of Health declared a public health emergency on March 24. No one is allowed to gather in groups of 10 people or more. Essential business is allowed.
On April 1, Fulton County ordered all residents to stay at home. The county said the move was ordered during the Board of Commissioners Meeting by Fulton County Interim District Health Director Dr. S. Elizabeth Ford. The release says violations of the order "shall constitute a misdemeanor and subject the violator to penalties and fines of up to $1,000 and/or up to 12 months in jail per offense."
Gwinnett County
On March 27, Gwinnett County and the 16 cities within the county announced they are issuing stay-at-home orders for their respective jurisdictions as a means to protect the health, safety and welfare of Gwinnett County residents.
The local emergency order also mandates all businesses that operate in Gwinnett County to cease all activity except for the minimum necessary activities to maintain the value of the business’ inventory. It excludes essential businesses.
Residents may leave their homes to conduct activities that are essential. Details will be updated on the county website.
Hall County
The Hall County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution to close all in-person dining and patio dining at bars and restaurants located in unincorporated Hall County beginning 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 25. Get details here.
Haralson County
Haralson County officials have restricted access to public county and buildings and facilities. This went into effect on Monday, March 16. Get additional details online.
Heard County
Heard County officials have declared a local state of emergency that went into effect on March 25, at 8 a.m. Read more about the declaration here.
Henry County
Beginning Monday, March 16, all Henry County Government Buildings including Rec Centers and the Recycling Center, will be closed. Visit the county website for details.
Jackson County
Jackson County Board of Commissioners Chairman Tom Crow signed an order March 18, 2020 declaring a Local Emergency due to the Coronavirus(COVID-19) outbreak. For more, visit the county's website.
Jasper County
Jasper County officials declared a state of emergency, which goes into effect on Thursday, March 26 at 5 p.m. This is expected to last until noon on Monday, April 6. Dine-in serves are suspended at restaurants but delivery and takeout is allowed.
A curfew will be imposed during the state of emergency from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. Residents are asked to remain home during the curfew hours. Essential services are allowed during curfew hours. Get more information here.
Lamar County
The Lamar County Board of Commissioners declared a public health state of emergency on Wednesday, March 25, which will remain in effect until noon on April 6. Public gatherings on county property are banned. Gatherings of more than 10 people outside of a household are prohibited.
Gyms, fitness centers, social clubs, and other amusement facilities are closed. Businesses such as grocery stores, pharmacies and other essential businesses remain open. Get more details here.
Meriwether County
Meriwether County officials issued that state of emergency that went into effect at 5 p.m. on March 24. This will be in place until further notice.
Some businesses have closed. Restaurants are not allowed to offer dine-in services. Takeout and delivery are still allowed. Gatherings of more than 10 people are prohibited.
A curfew is imposed from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. However, those engaged in “essential services" are allowed. Exceptions are allowed for travel to and from home to work, or in the event of an emergency. See the full list of what is permitted here.
An additional curfew was established for school children of the Meriwether County Public School System. Read about it here.
Morgan County
As of March 19, all Morgan County Government Offices are closed to the public until further notice. Get more information on the county website.
Oconee County
The Oconee County Board of Commissioners has issued a Local Emergency Order under the Emergency Management Ordinance, in accordance with Governor’s Kemp’s executive order, which remains in effect through April 6. The Oconee County Emergency Order will take effect at 5 p.m., Thursday, March 26, and remain in effect until Monday, April 6, at noon. To see full restrictions with the order, visit the county website.
Oglethorpe County
As of right now, all county departments are operating in such a manner as to minimize the interaction between employees and the public, they said on the county website. They've requested citizens call ahead and make use of web resources and emails as much as possible.
Paulding County
The County declared a state of emergency effective March 26. It will be in place through the end of the state's Public Health Emergency.
Under the ordinance, any person showing symptoms of COVID-19 is not to enter any public building, all county parks are closed, utilities are not to be disconnected for non-payment, all restaurants are to operate solely by delivery or take-out only, gyms and other fitness centers are closed and no more than 10 people are allowed inside establishments to maintain social distancing guidelines. For more guidance, visit the county website.
Pickens County
An emergency declaration is effective through April 7 at 11:59 p.m. where all citizens are to shelter-in-place and asked to avoid all nonessential outings and stay indoors as much as possible. Get updates on the county website.
Pike County
Pike County officials suspended public access to county offices, which started on March 20. This will remain in place until further notice. Get more details on the count website.
Polk County
Effective Monday March 16, 2020, as a precaution, and to limit exposure from person to person contact, Polk County Government will restrict public access to public County buildings and facilities. They have also issued a state of emergency. To see the full details, visit the county website.
Newton County
Newton County closed all non-essential government offices beginning 8 a.m. March 20 and they will reopen no earlier than April 13. The county has several other measures in place. See them here.
Rockdale County
While no order is in place, the county said residents are encouraged to stay at home unless it is an essential need, which includes picking up groceries, going to the pharmacy, or for an essential medical need. Get details here.
Spalding County
Spalding County officials are taking precautions.
The Spalding County Senior Center, Fairmont Community Center, City Park Community Center and the AMBUCS Community Center are closed to the public until further notice. Programs, events, classes and athletic events are canceled until further notice.
The Spalding County Tax Commissioner’s Office is closed to the public until further notice. To get more information, visit the county website.
Paulding County
Paulding County has closed its administrative building to the public through April 3. County services are still available.
Their public meetings have been canceled. County park entrances are closed. Get more information on the county’s website.
Troup County
The Troup County Board of Commissioners declared a local state of emergency on March 18. Many functions of the county have implemented changes and restrictions due in large part to the current Public Health state of emergency for the State of Georgia as well as the existing Statewide Judicial Emergency, they said. For more, visit the county's website.
Walton County
Walton County Government closed all offices and outlying buildings to foot traffic on March 20. The courts and other court services remained open at that time.
The Walton County Recreation Department is extending the suspension of all organized recreational activities through April 12.
All community centers, including Criswell Park, Felker Park, Meridian Park, Nowell Gym, and South Walton Park, will also remain closed. Since March 23, the Tax Commissioner’s Office has been closed to the public. Read more here.
White County
White County Board of Commissioners issued a local state of emergency.
White County closed all dine-in restaurant operations while allowing take-out, curbside, drive-thru and delivery options.The resolution also closed all body care service businesses which require physical contact between the provider and client, such as beauty or nail salons. All indoor recreations facilities are also closed.
Don't see your community on the list? Check with your local government website for guidance.
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We will track the most important coronavirus elements relating to Georgia on this page. Refresh often for new information.
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