ATLANTA — Georgia's main statewide shelter-in-place order will expire at midnight April 30 for many of us, but there are still restrictions in place for some Georgians.
Gov. Brian Kemp has extended the shelter-in-place order for several groups through June 12, about a month-and-a-half from now. Those groups include people 65 years old and older, those living in nursing homes or long-term care facilities, and those with preexisting conditions like chronic lung disease, severe heart disease, diabetes, moderate to sever asthma, and severe obesity, to name a few.
The governor issued an order last week that laid out his exact criteria for those considered too vulnerable to yet go out:
- Those persons who are 65 years of age or older.
- Those persons who live in a nursing home or long-term care facility, including inpatient hospice, assisted living communities, personal care homes, intermediate care homes, community living arrangements, and community integration homes.
- Those persons who have chronic lung disease.
- Those persons who have moderate to severe asthma.
- Those persons who have severe heart disease.
- Those persons who are immunocompromised. Many conditions can cause a person to be immunocompromised, including cancer treatment, smoking, bone marrow or organ transplantation, immune deficiencies, poorly controlled HIV or AIDS, and prolonged use of corticosteroids and other immune weakening medication.
- Those persons, of any age, with class III or severe obesity.
- Those persons diagnosed with the following underlying medical conditions: diabetes, liver disease, and persons with chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis.
A ban on large gatherings also remains in place. Businesses and governments can't allow more than 10 people in a single location unless there's six feet between them, though that doesn't include households or family units.
Now, for businesses that have begun to reopen within the last week - gyms, barbers and stylists, nail techs, tattoo shops and bowling alleys, along with dine-in restaurant service and movie theaters - they can continue to operate, but they must still meet previously released sanitary and distancing guidelines.
Those guidelines are included below for restaurants:
For body art studios, barber shops, salons and other associated businesses:
For bowling alleys:
For gyms and fitness centers:
For movie theaters:
Retail businesses, too, must comply with a list of guidelines that the governor has issued. Some of those include a limit to allowing people in at 50 percent fire capacity, and sanitizing entrances and exits at least three times a day.
Some businesses are still a no-go entirely: bars, nightclubs, amusement parks, live performance venues, and public swimming pools must remain closed through 11:59 p.m.on May 13, that is unless that order is extended.
The governor says the rules are measured and health-driven.
"The health and well-being of Georigans are my top priorities and my decisions are based on data and advice from health officials," he said in a recorded message announcing his order. "I will do what is necessary to protect the lives and the livelihoods of our people."
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