Superior Court Chief Judge Robert Leonard this week reinstated a mask mandate at the Cobb County courthouse after coronavirus transmission levels hit a critical threshold over the holiday weekend.

For the first time since February, Cobb has reached what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers a high community transmission level, with more than 200 new cases reported per 100,000 people over the last week.

Leonard in March issued an order that automatically reinstates mask requirements and social distancing protocols inside the court complex when Cobb meets the CDC’s threshold for high transmission.

While hospitalizations are increasing, they remain well below past pandemic surges. As of Sunday, only 6% of the county’s Intensive Care Unit beds were filled with coronavirus patients, according to the CDC.

No other county government facilities have made operational changes at this time, the county said in a news release.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Mariah Parker, steering committee at Play Fair ATL, speaks to members of the media during an event to launch its policy platform outlining community-driven demands ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the Steele Bridge near the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Thursday, December 4, 2025, in Atlanta. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Featured

Ja’Quon Stembridge, shown here in July at the Henry County Republican Party monthly meeting, recently stepped from his position with the Georgia GOP. (Jenni Girtman for the AJC)

Credit: Jenni Girtman