At the time of writing, of the 1,643 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state of Georgia, 231 have been in Fulton County, making Fulton the most infected county in the state. Prompted by these numbers, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottom signed an executive order on March 19 limiting restaurants to take out service only and closing “all bars and nightclubs that do not serve food, gyms and fitness centers, movie theaters, live performance venues, bowling alleys, arcades, and private social clubs.”
To help restaurants and other businesses stay afloat, Mayor Bottoms also signed two subsequent executive orders: one suspending the towing and booting of vehicles in the city’s right of way for the next sixty days, and another instituting a temporary moratorium on residential evictions and filings over the next sixty days.
The University System of Georgia (USG) and Fulton County Schools have also reacted to the pandemic with closures. All universities and colleges within the USG, including Georgia State and Georgia Tech, have moved to online learning for the remainder of the spring semester, advising students living on campus to not return for their belongings. Fulton Country Schools were also closed on March 10 after a teacher tested positive for COVID-19, and Superintendent Mike Looney said schools will likely not re-open until after spring break, which starts April 6.
Other Closings and Cancellations
- Alliance Theatre has suspended performances for the remainder of the 2019-2020 season.
- Atlanta Botanical Garden will be closed through March 30.
- Atlanta Film Festival, originally scheduled to begin April 30, has been postponed.
- Atlanta Food and Wine Festival has been postponed.
- Atlanta Freedom Bands will be postponing the “Music from Seven Continents” concert on March 28.
- Atlanta Leather Pride is canceled.
- Atlanta Symphony Orchestra has been postponed.
- Bloody Mary Festival has been postponed to July 26.
- Most March and several April shows at Center Stage have been canceled or postponed.
- Charis Books & More is closed indefinitely, but online shopping is still available.
- City Winery is closed indefinitely, but you can order wines for free pickup through their online shop (citywinery.com/atlanta)
- All shows at the Fox Theatre have been postponed until at least March 28.
- All events from GA Boy Productions are canceled until at least April. Peach Party is still scheduled for June 12-15.
- Georgia Aquarium is closed through at least the end of the month.
- The High Museum is closed indefinitely.
- Hotlanta Softball League will be postponing the season until further notice.
- Hotlanta Volleyball Association canceled league play for March 17 and open play on March 20.
- Pajama Bowl with HRC Atlanta is canceled.
- Jerusalem House’s 30th Anniversary Luncheon on March 26 is canceled.
- All March events at The Masquerade have been postponed or canceled.
- National Center for Civil and Human Rights is closed temporarily.
- The Other Show is on hiatus until further notice.
- Out Front Theatre Company has canceled “warplay,” which was running through March 28. A recorded version of the performance will be released.
- Pride Kickball Atlanta’s spring season is delayed until April.
- Shaky Knees music festival has been postponed until October 16-18. Shaky Boots has been canceled.
- Southern Fried Queer Pride’s Queer Threads Thrift Shop for April. The T4Tean trans and non-binary social is still on for March 31.
- The Transgender Day of Visibility event at City Hall has been canceled.
How to Help
To protect yourself from getting sick, the CDC suggests washing your hands often, disinfecting frequently touched surfaces daily, distancing yourself from others, and quarantining if you are showing symptoms. Symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
In the meantime, support local restaurants by ordering take out and donate to organizations who are providing support and care to those threatened by the pandemic, like Direct Relief, Feeding America, Open Hand Atlanta, and World Central Kitchen.
If you are self-quarantining and in need of free, virtual entertainment, you can find opera, dance, and theatre performances through Marquee TV (they are currently offering a free 30-day trial, and then subscriptions cost $8.99/month); a free virtual show streamed every night at 7:30pm through the Metropolitan Opera website; and intimate Living Room Concerts from big Broadway names through BroadwayWorld.com.