Mayor Terry Branch, City of Claxton, Mayor Matt Blocker, City of Hagan, Mayor Inman Brown, City of Daisy, Mayor Jerry Cox, City of Bellville and Chairperson Irene Burney, Evans County Board of Commissioners, issued a joint executive order in the wake of the Coronavirus {COVID-19) Pandemic and under the Authority of the Georgia Emergency Management Act of 1981. The order is in effect, beginning 12:01 a.m. on March 25, 2020 through 11:59 p.m. on April 7, 2020.
In accordance with Governor Kemp’s Order, which orders that no business, establishment, corporation, non-profit corporation, or organization shall allow more than ten (10) persons to be gathered at a single location, if such gathering requires persons to stand or to be seated within six (6) feet of any other person.
Locally the following business categories will be regulated as follows:
A. Restaurants shall close to the public except to provide take out, delivery, drive-through, or curbside service.
B. All businesses licensed under the Code for the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on premises, such as bars, night clubs, social clubs, taverns, and similar establishments, shall be closed for business not to include package stores.
C. All indoor recreation facilities, including, without limitation, gyms, health studios, dance studios, martial arts studios, yoga or other fitness classes, spas, saunas, indoor amusement facilities, arcades, bowling alleys, pool halls, movie theatres, playhouses, and concert venues, shall be closed for business.
D. All hair salons, barber shops, nail salons, tattoo parlors, and similar businesses requiring sustained physical contact shall be closed for business.
E. All other retail, commercial, and industrial establishments will be permitted to remain open subject to the following restrictions:
1. reasonable steps are taken to ensure that customers, employees, and other persons on the premises observe social distancing requirements
2. employees are not suffered or permitted to work if they subject to mandatory quarantine protocols established pursuant to the Executive Order
3. reasonable and appropriate cleaning/sanitizing protocols designed to minimize the spread of COVID-19 are reduced to writing and diligently observed.
All individuals living within the Cities and unincorporated areas of the County (and who are not required to quarantine, isolate, or shelter in place) are requested to shelter at their residence, and travel outside the residence only:
- (i) to obtain healthcare services or engage in activities or perform tasks essential to their health (e.g. obtaining medical supplies or medication, etc.);
- (ii) to obtain other necessary services or supplies (e.g. groceries, household supplies, financial services, supplies needed to work from home, fuel and auto repair, laundry cleaners, take-out meals, government and social services, legal and other professional services, childcare services, etc.);
- (iii) to engage in outdoor activity (e.g. walking, hiking, jogging, bicycling, etc.), provided that social distancing requirements are observed; and
- (iv) to perform work providing essential products and services.
The foregoing shall be interpreted to allow persons to engage in the above activities described in (i) and (ii) for themselves, their families, household members, significant others, and pets, as well as neighbors and others who may need assistance.
Violations are subject to $1,000 fine with up to 120 days in jail and property owners, under this order, are required to allow city and/or county officials on their property and cannot refuse such access.
