Riverdale imposes curfew, state of emergency to fight coronavirus

Riverdale on Monday became the latest southside community to declare a state of emergency and put in place a curfew because of the coronavirus.

Like many cities around the metro area, Riverdale has relegated churches to congregations of no more than 10 people and banned dining inside restaurants but allowed the establishments to serve food curbside or through a drive-through window.

The Clayton County city also called for a “shelter at their place” curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., an issue that Mayor Evelyn Winn Dixon just days earlier had tried to avoid.

“We strongly urge you to continue to exercise good judgment and self-discipline to avoid the necessity of the city declaring a formal curfew,” Dixon said in a letter to residents. “It is vital to your health and safety, as well as to the well-being of others that you continue to do so.

“However, should we consider it necessary for the safety and welfare of our citizens at any time in the future, we will not hesitate to invoke a legal curfew,” she wrote.

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