Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has signed a 2-week stay-at-home order to address the coronavirus pandemic.
The order, which went into effect midnight Tuesday (March 24) and lasts until April 7, directs Atlanta residents to stay inside their homes. Exceptions include essential city services and businesses, grocery stores, gas stations, pharmacies, laundromats, parks, the Atlanta BeltLine, and restaurants offering takeout.
This executive order comes after a press conference with Governor Brian Kemp on Monday (March 23) at 5pm.
“I appreciate the leadership of Governor Brian Kemp during this crisis and his concern for the wellbeing of the people across Georgia,” Mayor Bottoms said in a statement. “While Governor Kemp has to consider the needs of the state as a whole, as Mayor of Atlanta, I have been entrusted with making decisions that are specific to our city. Given our population density, high rate of asthma, and various underlying health conditions found within our city’s populations, I am issuing a Stay at Home Order for Atlantans.”
The city’s homeless population are also exempt from this order but are urged “to find shelter” through the government or nonprofits.
Based upon the specific needs and concerns within Atlanta, I have signed a 14 day Stay at Home Order. As of now, this…
Posted by Keisha Lance Bottoms on Monday, March 23, 2020
Atlanta residents are also ordered to maintain social distancing and remain at least six feet away from other visitors when utilizing outdoor spaces like parks and the Beltline.
“Until we flatten the curve of COVID-19 infections, the City must exercise every reasonable power to slow the spread of the virus,” Mayor Bottoms said. “Across the globe we are seeing a growing sense of urgency, and we must all make some sacrifices to break the chain of infections and avert a worst-case scenario.”