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    Coronavirus Update – Curfews

    Ordinance 2020-006 Emergency Declaration COVID-19

    Good Morning Jonesboro Business Owners/Representatives:

    Pursuant to Governor Kemp’s executive order this week and the recently approved City of Jonesboro Ordinance 2020-06, there are new gathering and social distancing regulations for all types of businesses in the City of Jonesboro, in order to better contain the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak.

    General Requirements For All Businesses:

    1. Any persons showing officially recognized symptoms of COVID-19 should refrain from entering any public or commercial buildings.
    2. It is strongly encouraged that all citizens not gather in crowds of 10 or more people, in any setting, commercial or otherwise. When around other people in stores or elsewhere, the recommended minimum distance of physical separation between persons is 6 feet.
    3. Businesses that remain open during the outbreak shall post signs on entrance doors informing customers to maintain at least 6 feet of personal distance between themselves.
    4. The limit of unnecessary travel is strongly encouraged.
    5. There is a curfew now established for the City limits of Jonesboro between 9 pm and 5 am. All non-exempt persons shall remain in their homes during this times. Exempt persons are as follows: 1. Fire prevention personnel, 2. Law enforcement, 3. Medical, hospital, and veterinary services, 4. Military services, 5. Utility emergency repair personnel, 6. Persons seeking medical services, 7. Persons traveling to and from jobs with appropriate identification, including the medical field, 8. Persons engaging in the delivery of essential goods, including food, fuel, and medical items, 9. News media employees, 10. GEMA employees, 11. Persons engaged in the necessary care of animals, and 2. Critical infrastructure businesses and employees.

    Indoor Recreation Businesses (Gyms, arcade, etc.)

    Currently, these types of businesses are strongly encouraged to immediately close and remain closed until the state emergency has been lifted.

    Eating Establishments

    1. All eating establishments shall cease all walk-in, indoor service and provide only delivery, take-out, or drive-thru services for customers. However, cafeterias within medical, industrial, government or other such production facilities that are performing essential functions necessary to promote health, welfare, and vital resources in the City, are exempt from closing, as long as they stagger meal times, practice social distancing, and follow CDC cleaning protocols.
    2. Minimum social distancing regulations of 6 feet between persons is strongly encouraged.
    3. During this emergency, restaurants licensed to sell beer and wine for on-premises consumption shall only sell unopened bottles / cans of beer or wine for take-out consumption off-premises.

    Bars / Nightclubs

    Currently, these types of businesses are strongly encouraged to immediately close and remain closed until the state emergency has been lifted.

    Houses of Worship

    1. Houses of worship shall strive to only hold gatherings of 10 people or less, whether it be a scheduled service or a life event, such as a wedding, funeral, baptism, etc.
    2. Minimum social distancing regulations of 6 feet between persons is strongly encouraged.
    3. Houses of worship are further encouraged to use social media and other outlets to broadcast remote worship services as a substitute to in-person services during this time.

    Funeral Homes

    1. Funeral homes shall strive to only hold services of 10 people or less, including graveside services.
    2. Vehicles used to transport families shall be properly cleaned per CDC cleaning protocols.

    Unless otherwise directed by the City of Jonesboro Mayor and Council, these regulations shall be in effect until 11:59 pm on July 30, 2020.

    As we know this is a difficult time for everyone, nationwide, please let us know if we can be of any further assistance to you. If you are running specials/promotions or have flyers indicative of changes within your business, send them to me and we will post.

    We are also working to extend the deadline for Occupational Tax renewal. Additional information to follow.
    Source

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    M E M O R A N D U M

    TO: All Interested Parties
    FROM: Ricky L. Clark, Jr., City Manager
    DATE: April 21, 2020

    SUBJECT: Governor Kemp’s Recent Press Conference and Executive Order

     

           I. INTRODUCTION

                On April 20, Governor Kemp announced the reopening of certain businesses listed below,
          and issued Executive Order 4.20.20.01. According to the governor, these listed businesses are not
          opening for business as usual but with minimum basic operations, adhering to social distancing
          and sanitation guidance. The governor also indicated that there will be an order issued within the
          next few days permitting theaters, private social clubs, and restaurant dine-in services to re-open

          on Monday, April 27th.

            II. EXECUTIVE ORDER 04.20.20.0

          - Healthcare Practices/Services:
                o Effective immediately, all healthcare related practices and services may begin
                    operating again in compliance with CDC guidelines. However, they are not subject
                    to minimum basic operations restrictions as provided in the Governor’s shelter in
                    place order. It is recommended that they implement the operational guidelines for 
                    critical infrastructure.
                o This includes all medical, dental, orthodontics, optometry, and physical therapy
                    practices, surgical centers, healthcare institutions, medical facilities, and all other
                    healthcare related practices and services.
                    Beginning Friday, April 24, 2020, the following businesses are permitted to begin in- person minimum
                    operations, as long as they implement specific measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19:
                o Gyms, fitness centers, bowling alleys, body art studios, estheticians,
                    cosmetologists, nail salons, barbers, hair stylists, and massage therapists are
                    permitted to begin in-person minimum operations.
                    - 10 Person Maximum or 6ft Distancing Requirements Still Apply:
                o Businesses, non-profits, organizations, counties, and municipalities are still
                    required to allow no more than 10 persons to be gathered at a single location if such
                    gathering requires persons to be within 6 feet of any other person. Does not apply
                    to critical infrastructure or persons that are cohabitating
          - Additional Businesses listed as Critical Infrastructure:
                o Staffing operations centers, maintaining and repairing critical infrastructure,
                    operating call centers, working construction, and performing operational functions,
                    among others. It also includes workers who support crucial supply chains and
                    enable functions for critical infrastructure. The industries they support represent,     
                    but are not limited to, medical and healthcare, telecommunications, information
                    technology systems, defense, food and agriculture, transportation and logistics,
                    energy, water and wastewater, law enforcement, and public works
          - Municipal ordinances:
                o All ordinances regarding enforcing restrictions to combat COVID-19 that are more
                    or less restrictive than the Governor’s orders are suspended. The City cannot adopt
                    another ordinance on the topic
          - All of the other provisions in the shelter in place order are still effective and will expire on

            April 30th, unless another order is issued stating the contrary.

          III. CONCLUSION

          As noted above, the City is prohibited from adopting an ordinance that is more or less
          restrictive than the Governor’s executive orders regarding COVID-19; however, we
          encourage everyone to please use your best judgement. We will continue to enforce social
          distancing for those aforementioned businesses that may reopen pursuant to the Governor’s

          order. PLEASE comply and avoid more stringent action.

          The City of Jonesboro is collaborating with local, regional, and state agencies and
          organizations to provide accurate information and assistance to residents and businesses.
          There have been 482 new cases of COVID-19 and 24 additional deaths reported to state
          officials since last night. COVID-19 is continuing to spread in our nation. But together, we
          can slow it down, saving lives. Everyone, young and old, should avoid all non-essential
          contact. Our number one priority remains your safety! All of the steps taken by our
          government are for your health. We are all in this together and can do our part to help
          flatten the curve. Our staff remains available to assist you with any issues and/or questions

          you may have.

    Thank you for your unwavering commitment to our city, our county and our nation.

    Ricky L. Clark, Jr.
    City Manager
    Source

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