Atlanta is planning to fully reopen City Hall to the public beginning Aug. 9, according to the mayor’s office.
The public will be allowed into Atlanta City Hall for the first time since officials closed it following the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020. The city’s decision comes after Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms recently issued an executive order directing everyone to wear a mask over their nose and mouth at all times when entering or moving through city facilities.
The order will allow City Council to resume in-person meetings, based on the current COVID-19 data, according to the mayor’s office. Council President Felicia Moore said they will resume in-person meetings when City Hall opens to the public next month.
The order did not specify if this means Atlanta is entering Phase 5 of its five-phase COVID-19 Response Plan, which requires vaccinated and unvaccinated people to wear masks in city government buildings. City employees and the public will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms and exposure whenever they enter city buildings.
Last month, Atlanta entered Phase 4 to allow city employees to return to government buildings.
Bottoms in June also issued an executive order directing city officials to begin accepting permit applications for outdoor events for up to 49,999 persons, effective immediately. The events can only occur under the guidelines outlined by the city to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter J.D. Capelouto contributed to this article.
