Saturday, March 21, 2020

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) -- Augusta Mayor Hardie Davis has ordered the shutdown of businesses, salons, bars other indoor recreation. This begins at midnight on Saturday and extends until April 4, unless changed by the Mayor or commission.

The order includes all public restaurants except for take-out and drive-thru services. It includes bars, but allows for to-go drinks in enclosed containers. It also includes gymnasiums, other indoor recreational facilities and body care salons of all types.

This order will not affect essential services. Those include, gas stations, pharmacies, grocery stores, food banks, convenience stores, banks, hospitals, medical centers, and laundromats. Restaurants providing take-out, drive thru, and delivery services can continue to do business.

Critical government functions such as water and sewer, garbage, transportation, jails, courts, law enforcement, fire protection, and emergency services will also continue operations.

This only impacts Richmond County, not any other county.

The Mayor says this order follows the CDC's latest guidance that people should not gather in groups of 10 or more with exceptions like grocery stores, pharmacies, and medical facilities. Mayor Hardie Davis says this is the next step in an ongoing effort by the City of Augusta to “flatten the curve” of the coronavirus.

Business and Gathering Restrictions

Affected:

-Bars

-Nightclubs

-Restaurants with dine-in service only

-Gymnasiums & recreational facilities

-Body care salons: barbers, nail salons, hair dressers, spas

-Entertainment venues: bowling alleys, movie theaters, and live performance venues

-Public & private gatherings of 10 or more.

Not affected:

-Grocery Stores

-Restaurants with take-out, drive thru, or delivery services

-Banks

-Convenience stores

-Laundromats

The Mayor also said that testing has increased locally and the number of cases will continue to rise. He says while the new order will be tough for businesses and citizens, the community has to work together to stop the rapid spread.

“The time is now, for us as a city to act and protect the citizens of Augusta, Georgia,” said Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr. “This is a virus that has no treatment plan, no vaccine, and continues to spread at a rapid rate. As a community, we must work together to protect each other.”

City leaders say citizens and concerned business owners can call the hotline 311 for public and business community concerns. You can also visit augustaexpresscare.org.