Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms made public the City’s ongoing preparations for any potential health threats posed by Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). Last month, under the direction of Mayor Bottoms, the Mayor’s Pandemic Coordination Team was created to lead the City’s strategic plan to ensure minimal impact to the City of Atlanta in the case of a COVID-19 pandemic.

The team is led by the City’s Chief Health Officer, Dr. Angelica Geter Fugerson, and the City’s Director of Emergency Preparedness and former FBI Special Agent, Felipe den Brok. The Work Group is an inter-departmental effort with the mission of ensuring City operations continuity and public safety readiness.

“The full efforts of the City are invested in the urgent and deliberate coordinated response with federal and state partners this health threat demands,” Bottoms said. “City officials—including those appointed to the Governor’s Coronavirus Task Force—are working in concert to ensure the well-being of the people of Atlanta.

“Further, information and additional resources have been posted to the City’s website,” she added. “Atlanta residents should be safe and protect themselves and their loved ones.”

In January, efforts were implemented directing the City’s Department of Enterprise Assets Management (DEAM) to work with their janitorial team to conduct continuous sanitizing and cleaning of all entry points and touchpoints — handrails, doorknobs, etc. — throughout City facilities for the health and wellbeing of employees and visitors.

The City has also posted prevention information and additional resources related to COVID-19 on its website here. Chief among the City’s guidance to residents and visitors are the following preventative measures: