EXECUTIVE ORDER
WHEREAS, as of March 25, 2020, the Georgia Department of Public Health has confirmed 1247 positive cases of COVID-19 in Georgia, including 40 fatalities caused by COVID-19 statewide, with positive cases in Taylor County, Peach County, Macon County, Sumter County, and Houston County, among others; and
WHEREAS, Governor Kemp on March 23, 2020, during a press conference gave the following order;
“That the Department of Public Health shall order certain persons within the State of Georgia who have serious underlying conditions likely to cause an increased spread of COVID-19, if such persons were to become infected, to isolate, quarantine, or shelter in place within their homes or place of residence. This order by the Department of Public Health shall include the following populations within the State:
1. Those persons who live in nursing homes or long-term care facility;
2. Those persons who have chronic lung disease;
3. Those persons who are currently undergoing cancer treatment; and
4. Those persons included in the Department of Public Health Administrative Order 03.22.20.01, and;
WHEREAS, a critical component of the public response to the COVID-19 pandemic is to practice “social distancing” by minimizing contact between people residing in different households as much as possible; and WHEREAS, Taylor County, Georgia has experienced an event of critical significance as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic on March 25, 2020; and WHEREAS, in the judgement of the of the Taylor County Commissioners, City of Butler and City of Reynolds, with advice from the Taylor County Emergency Management Agency, there exist emergency circumstances located in Taylor County, Georgia, requiring extraordinary and immediate corrective actions for the protection of the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Taylor County; and WHEREAS, to prevent or minimize injury to people and damages to property resulting from this event. NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the authority vested in me by local and state law: IT IS HEREBY DECLARED that a State of Emergency exists and shall continue until the conditions requiring this declaration are abated. THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED:
That the Taylor County Emergency Management activates the Emergency Operations Plan;
1. Taylor County is declared to be under a state of emergency, which shall continue until April 6, 2020, unless modified by subsequent order.
2. All restaurants, coffee shops, and other places where food if offered to the public for on premises consumption shall be limited to take out, drive-through, curbside service, or delivery.
3. All public assembling, events and gatherings of ten (10) people or more are prohibited within the Cities and the County. This includes religious services, weddings, funerals, baby and bridal showers.
4.. Convenience stores, grocery stores, drug stores/pharmacies, and all other retail businesses which sell essential household items and groceries will be permitted to open AS LONG AS steps are taken to ensure customers and employees are not within six (6) feet of each other. Hand sanitizer should be readily available throughout the store, and all surfaces which customers touch should be cleaned and sanitized frequently. Consideration should be given to limiting the number of customers in the store at any one time based on the social distancing rule. Employees showing symptoms or living with someone showing the symptoms should be sent home for the specified quarantine time of fourteen (14) days and asked to contact their doctor.
Beyond the effective dates of this Resolution the Taylor County Commissioners, the City of Butler and the City of Reynolds may issue a mandatory shelter at home order, with appropriate exemptions in the near future, should it become necessary to protect public health and safety and encourage all citizens and businesses to take immediate action to prepare for such a contingency. Violations will be reported to the Georgia Department of Public Health, which by order of the Governor has the power to shut the business down.
5. The Taylor County Board of Commissioners, the City of Butler, and the City of Reynolds, requests that all persons within the Cities and County voluntarily shelter at homes and not leave their home to loiter, wander, stroll, or play in public places within the Cities or County, EXCEPT as follows:
• When a person is on an errand necessitated by an emergency.
• When a person is traveling to or returning directly to home from lawful employment or otherwise engaged in lawful employment that makes it necessary to leave home.
• When a person is engaged in interstate and intrastate vehicular travel through the County or City.
• When a person is procuring essential food or medicine or seeking essential medical care or providing essential food, medicine, or medical care to another person.
6. The County and the City of Butler and the City of Reynolds herby restricts public travel with Taylor County, Butler and Reynolds within the hours of 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM, with exceptions for such things as people going to and from medical facilities or work, responding to emergencies, emergency and public safety personnel, essential County or City personnel, people traveling through the County to a destinations outside the County and/or making deliveries within the County.
This executive order is in effect March 25, 2020 at 11:59 PM.
WHEREFORE IT IS ORDERED this 25 day of March, 2020.
_ TAYLOR COUNTY COMMISIONERS
_ CITY OF BUTLER
CITY OF REYNOLDS
—-DECLARATION OF LOCAL EMERGENCY
WHEREAS, Taylor County, Georgia anticipates an event of critical significance as a result of the effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on March 25, 2020; and
WHEREAS, the President of the United States declared a National Public Health Emergency on March 13, 2020; and
WHEREAS, the Governor of the State of Georgia declared a State Public Health Emergency on March 14, 2020 and urged “local officials to do what’s in the best interests of their communities to keep people safe and stop the spread of coronavirus” on March 19, 2020; and
WHEREAS, in the judgement of the Taylor County Board of Commissioners, with advice from the Taylor County Emergency Management Agency, there exist emergency circumstances located in Taylor County including the City of Butler and the City of Reynolds, requiring extraordinary and immediate corrective actions for the protection of health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Taylor County; and
WHEREAS, to prevent or minimize injury to people and damage to property resulting from this event, certain actions are required.
NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the authority vested in me by local and state law;
IT IS HEREBY DECLARED that a local state of emergency exists and shall continue until the circumstances requiring this declaration are abated.
THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED:
(1) That the Taylor County Emergency Management Agency activates the Emergency Operations Plan;
(2) That the following sections of the Taylor County, City of Butler and City of Reynolds Code be Implemented:
a. Authority to Waive Procedures and Fee Structures
b. Registration of Building and Repair Services
c. Closed or Restricted Areas and Curfews
d. Emergency Purchasing
e. Price Gouging
