Here’s how Gov. Kemp’s shelter-in-place order impacts Bibb County
Macon-Bibb County Mayor Robert Reichert reminded residents that in-person Easter church services are prohibited under Gov. Brian Kemp’s executive order, and urged people not to purchase more food than usual.
“I want to urge everyone not to make a run on the grocery store and try to stock up with two weeks of stuff,” he said during a Friday press conference. “You don’t need to do that. You’re allowed under the governor’s order to go back and forth as necessary to the grocery store, pharmacy, other retail outlets to get what you need to keep your household going.”
The governor’s order, effective as of 6 p.m. Friday, pre-empts the state of emergency declared by Reichert March 23. He said Macon-Bibb fully supports the governor’s order, which remains in effect until April 13, the Monday after Easter. Easter church services fall under the prohibition related to gatherings of 10 or more people, Reichert said.
“Hopefully, churches will have time to take steps to make (Easter) services online or through video rather than in person because all of us know and recognize that we want to do all that we can to slow or to stop the spread of COVID-19 and to protect our most vulnerable citizens from being impacted by this disease,” he said. “And we also want to try as best we can to prevent our hospitals from being overcrowded or unable to provide the relief that they want to each and every patient.”
Reichert went over the details of the shelter-in-place order. He also urged voluntary compliance with the order.
Bars, nightclubs, gyms, fitness centers, bowling allies, theaters, barbers, salons, message therapist and live performance venues are closed under the under order.
Grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants for curbside pickup, to-go or delivery, hospitals and other healthcare facilities and convenience stores remain open.
“Broad” exceptions to the order include participation in essential services, necessary travel, minimum basic operations for business not qualified as critical infrastructure and for those working in critical infrastructure and going to and from work.
“Essential services means acquiring what you need to keep your household going,” Reichert said. “Therefore, an essential service is going to the grocery store, going to the pharmacy, going to the hardware store if your toilet breaks, if you’ve got a problem, your air conditioning goes down and needs some repair.”
Sam Henderson, director of the Office of Small Business Affairs, talked about programs available for small businesses to protect pay checks and to obtain emergency loans. Those include the Paycheck Protection Program, EIDL Loan Advance, SBA Express Bridge Loans and SBA debt relief.
Detailed information may be found on the Small Business Administration’s website.
The Association of County Commissioners of Georgia and the Georgia Municipal Association provided a summary and review of the governor’s order, which was the basis of what Reichert shared at the news conference, he said.
This story was originally published April 3, 2020 at 12:57 PM.