The City of Avondale Estates Board of Mayor and Commissioners voted Thursday, March 26 to issue a resolution enacting a Public Health Emergency Order in order to slow the spread of COVID-19 to the maximum extent possible. The Order stays in effect until 11:59 p.m. on April 19, 2020 unless extended further or rescinded. This order requires residents to shelter in their homes and bans gatherings.
The order states that individuals living within the City of Avondale Estates should leave their residences only for essential activities. Additionally, individuals using shared spaces must maintain social distancing of at least six feet from any other person when they are outside their residence. The order is not all that different from what has already been recommended for residents. The order just makes it official and further emphasizes the importance of social distancing and staying home unless it is necessary for a person to leave.All businesses, unless defined as an essential business, must stop activities at their facilities except for minimum basic operations, but employees can continue working from home. The definition of essential businesses may be found in the order and includes businesses and activities related to health and safety including the delivery of those services and supplies to others such as food, medicine, and products essential to the operation of residences. Other examples of essential businesses include grocery stores, pharmacies, banks, gas stations, auto supply and repair, lawn care, and restaurants offering to-go orders only.
The intent of the order is to ensure that the maximum number of people self-isolate in their places of residence to the maximum extent feasible, while still enabling essential services to continue, to slow the spread of COVID-19 to the maximum extent possible. The number of diagnosed COVID-19 cases reported to the Georgia Department of Public Health has continued to grow exponentially and is expected to continue in that pattern if significant measures taken now. Many cities within DeKalb County and Georgia have introduced such measures upon the advice of infectious disease and public health experts.
For more information visit www.AvondaleEstates.org/COVID-19.