Due to COVID-19, East Point bars in-person dining, starts business curfew
The East Point City Council has instituted a commercial curfew and banned in-person dining.
The new rules, which council members voted on during an emergency Saturday meeting, are meant to curb the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. The rules began at midnight early Monday.
The city had declared a state of emergency March 16, but it appears people did not follow the rules of limiting gatherings to no more than 50 people.
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“Since there have been continued instances of large numbers of people congregating in areas of the City after the adoption of the first emergency ordinance, it is imperative that we take additional measures for the health, welfare and safety of our community during this unprecedented global pandemic,” said Mayor Deana Holiday Ingraham in a news release.
Businesses can only be open to the public between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. — except for healthcare providers, pharmacies and hotels.
READ | South Fulton under COVID-19 curfew; 5 council members self-quarantine
Another part of the updated rules allows for establishments to sell unopened wine and beer for takeout but not delivery.
All non-essential businesses and services are ordered to close at midnight going into Tuesday, March 24 and stay closed for seven days.
As announced before, the city has suspended disconnection of utility services for 30 days and sanitation/recycling will continue services on their regular schedule.
The nearby cities of College Park and South Fulton have also instituted commercial curfews.
READ | College Park begins business curfew amid COVID-19 coronavirus
The following essential businesses and services can operate while implementing social distancing of six feet per person:
- Food
- Grocery stores
- Food banks
- Outdoor farmers markets
- Businesses that provide food, shelter, social services and other necessities of life for economically disadvantaged people
- Gas stations
- Banks and financial institutions
- Hotels
- Hardware stores and nurseries
- Plumbers and electricians
- Exterminators
- Custodial/janitorial workers
- Handyman services
- Funeral homes and morticians
- Moving services
- HVAC installers
- Carpenters
- Landscapers
- Gardeners
- Property managers
- Private security personnel
- Healthcare providers and facilities
- Transportation services
- Residential facilities
- Warehouses and distribution centers
- City and county government services
- Laundromats/laundry service
- Media services (newspapers, magazines, television, radio, podcasts, etc…)
- Educational institutions
About the Author
Ben Brasch is the reporter tasked with keeping Fulton County government accountable. The Florida native moved to Atlanta for a job with The AJC. If there's something important to you going on in Fulton, he wants to know about it. Help him better metro Atlanta by dropping a line, anonymously or otherwise.
