FULL TEXT: Kemp’s ‘Shelter in Place’ Order

Governor Kemp’s office issued a shelter in place order for all Georgians beginning at 6:00 PM on Friday, April 3, 2020 and extending through April 13, 2020.

The order supersedes local and county ordinances enacted as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, including every ordinance enacted since March 1, 2020 if the ordinance is in any way contradictory of this order. The Governor’s order trumps each and every local act. (see page 8 below)

Under the order:

• businesses are prohibited from allowing a gathering in a single location if the gathering requires 10 or more people to be within 6 feet of any other person
• individuals are required to shelter in place at their residence to limit the spread of COVID-19.
  • Exceptions are made for:
    • conducting or participating in essential services
    • performing necessary travel
    • traveling to or performing minimum basic operations for a business, establishment, nonprofit, or other entity not defined as ‘critical infrastructure’
    • those part of the workforce of critical infrastructure
• the sale of firearms and ammunition is not limited under the order.
• No visitors for shelter in place persons are permitted except for:
  • medical, behavioral and emergency services, medical supplies and medication, and home hospice
  • visitors providing  for persons to conduct daily living
  • visitors providing food, supplies, and other equipment for home health & safety
  • visitors received during end of life circumstances.
  • This will be strictly enforced for nursing homes, assisted living facilities, long-term care facilities, hospice homes, and other community integration facilities.
• Limited activity is permitted for:
  • obtaining necessary supplies and services for family and household members – food, medical supplies, medicine, educational information, sanitation supplies, etc
  • engaging in activities essential for the health and safety of the individual or household members
  • engaging in outdoor exercise so long as 6 feet distance between each individual is maintained.
• Georgians are required to limit travel as required by minimum basic operations and critical infrastructure only
• Restaurants are prohibited from offering dine-in services (take-out, curbside pick-up, and delivery only)
• Minimum basic operations for businesses are defined as:
  • payroll, employee benefits, activity necessary to facilitate teleworking, instances where employees are working outdoors without regular contact with other persons (delivery, contractors, landscape businesses, agriculture industry)
  • A business may remain open if it is not in conflict with any other aspect of the order requiring a shutter.
• If a business is not a critical infrastructure business, the business must:
  • screen and evaluate workers who show signs of illness – like fever, cough, and shortness of breath
  • require workers who show signs of illness to seek medical attention and not require them to attend work
  • require hand washing
  • provide personal protective equipment as available
  • prohibit gatherings
  • permit workers to take breaks and eat meals outdoors to adhere to social distancing
  • prohibit handshaking,
  • deliver intangible services wherever possible
  • implement staggered shifts as available
  • implement teleworking as possible
  • suspend the use of pinpads, PIN entry devices, and electronic signature devices.
  • increase physical space between workers and worksites
  • increase space between customers and employees
  • provide disinfectant and sanitation products for workers to clean workspace

The order, which was released at 6:20 P.M. on April 2nd, 2020, is below in its entirety.