Editing COVID-19 pandemic in Georgia (U.S. state) (section)

===County and city governments===
{{Update|type=section|date=July 2020|reason=}}[[File:COVID-19 sign in Glynn County, GA, US.jpg|right|thumb|Sign in Glynn County]]
In addition to Atlanta, the cities of [[Brookhaven, Georgia|Brookhaven]], [[Clarkston, Georgia|Clarkston]], [[Sandy Springs, Georgia|Sandy Springs]] and [[Dunwoody]] have approved plans to ban dine-in service at restaurants. Clarkston also banned gatherings of more than ten people.<ref name="ajc-deere-quinn"/> [[South Fulton, Georgia|South Fulton]] on March 17 instituted a [[curfew]] from 9:00 PM to 7:00 AM, with work and medical exceptions.<ref name="ajc-brasch-03-18-2020"/>

[[Athens, Georgia|Athens]]–[[Clarke County, Georgia|Clarke County]] declared on March 19 that "all individuals... shall [[stay-at-home order|shelter at their place of residence]]", though with exceptions.<ref name="athens-clarke-order-march-19">{{cite web |title=An Ordinance for the Second Declaration of a Local State of Emergency Related to COVID-19; and for Other Purposes |url=https://www.accgov.com/DocumentCenter/View/67248/03-Ordinance-for-the-Second-Declaration-of-a-Local-State-of-Emergency-Related-to-COVID-19 |publisher=Athens–Clarke County |access-date=March 20, 2020 |date=March 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320031013/https://www.accgov.com/DocumentCenter/View/67248/03-Ordinance-for-the-Second-Declaration-of-a-Local-State-of-Emergency-Related-to-COVID-19 |archive-date=March 20, 2020 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="ajc-athens-hansen">{{cite web |last1=Hansen |first1=Zachary |title=BREAKING: Athens passes mandatory 'shelter in place' order to try to quell coronavirus spread |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/breaking-news/breaking-athens-passes-mandatory-shelter-place-order-try-quell-coronavirus-spread/gLKKEow5qe4437hFEuRUEO/ |publisher=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |access-date=March 20, 2020 |date=March 19, 2020 |archive-date=May 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501114254/https://www.ajc.com/news/breaking-news/breaking-athens-passes-mandatory-shelter-place-order-try-quell-coronavirus-spread/gLKKEow5qe4437hFEuRUEO/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[DeKalb County, Georgia|DeKalb County]] CEO [[Michael Thurmond]] declared a state of emergency on March&nbsp;23<ref name="dekalb-eo-list">{{cite web |title=State of Emergency Executive Order |url=https://www.dekalbcountyga.gov/covid-19/state-emergency-executive-order |website=DeKalb County |access-date=March 29, 2020 |archive-date=April 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200403231520/https://www.dekalbcountyga.gov/covid-19/state-emergency-executive-order |url-status=live }}</ref> and later issued a stay-at-home order effective from March 28 and to last indefinitely. The order does not affect cities within DeKalb County,<ref name="estep-dekalb-sah-order">{{cite web |last1=Estep |first1=Tyler |title=DeKalb County issues stay-at-home order |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/local/breaking-dekalb-county-issues-stay-home-order/94cJyGdWEUhu9zJfX4upZJ/ |publisher=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |access-date=March 29, 2020 |date=March 27, 2020 |archive-date=May 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200512025350/https://www.ajc.com/news/local/breaking-dekalb-county-issues-stay-home-order/94cJyGdWEUhu9zJfX4upZJ/ |url-status=live }}</ref> but the order "invites all of the cities to adopt this Order so that the [r]ules within all of DeKalb County are uniform".<ref name="eo-20-002-dekalb">{{cite web |title=Executive Order No. 20-002 |url=https://www.dekalbcountyga.gov/sites/default/files/users/user715/Stay%20at%20Home%20Order%20FINAL.pdf |publisher=DeKalb County |access-date=March 29, 2020 |date=March 27, 2020 |archive-date=April 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200409173033/https://www.dekalbcountyga.gov/sites/default/files/users/user715/Stay |url-status=live }}</ref>

The city of [[Savannah, Georgia|Savannah]] declared a state of emergency on March 19, and mayor [[Van Johnson]] issued a stay-at-home order on March 24, effective through April 8. Johnson said that the order was "necessary and prudent to enhance and escalate our action plan to minimize the exposure of Savannahians to this virus".<ref name="smn-shelter-24"/>

On March 26, [[Effingham County, Georgia|Effingham County]] declared a state of emergency and "urged" residents to shelter in place.<ref name="rigsby-effingham-emergency">{{cite web |last1=Rigsby |first1=G. G. |title=Effingham County declares state of emergency |url=https://www.savannahnow.com/news/20200326/effingham-county-declares-state-of-emergency |publisher=Savannah Morning News |access-date=March 29, 2020 |date=March 26, 2020 |archive-date=May 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501042059/https://www.savannahnow.com/news/20200326/effingham-county-declares-state-of-emergency |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Springfield, Georgia|Springfield]] declared an emergency the same day. {{citation needed|date=April 2020}}

On March 20, [[Tybee Island]] closed its public beaches and banned the open consumption of alcohol. The island town also ordered all businesses on the island to close from 11 pm to 7 am.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.savannahnow.com/news/20200319/tybee-island-announces-business-hour-restrictions-city-closures-due-to-coronavirus|title=Tybee Island announces business hour restrictions, city closures due to coronavirus|publisher=[[Savannah Morning News]]|date=March 19, 2020}}</ref> On March 28, mayor Shirley Sessions ordered all non-essential businesses on the island to close and banned large groups from March 28 through April 9.<ref name="tybee-official-closure">{{cite web |title=Tybee Mayor Orders Closure of Non-Essential Businesses |url=https://cityoftybee.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=531 |website=City of Tybee Island, Georgia |access-date=March 29, 2020 |date=March 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329002900/https://www.cityoftybee.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=531 |archive-date=March 29, 2020 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="wtoc-tybee">{{cite web |author1=Staff |title=Tybee Island mayor issues order closing all non-essential businesses |url=https://www.wtoc.com/2020/03/27/tybee-island-mayor-issues-order-closing-all-non-essential-businesses/ |publisher=WTOC 11 |access-date=March 29, 2020 |date=March 27, 2020 |archive-date=May 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200515130223/https://www.wtoc.com/2020/03/27/tybee-island-mayor-issues-order-closing-all-non-essential-businesses/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Gwinnett County]] issued a stay-at-home order effective March 28 through April 13. The order covers the county as well as its 16 cities.<ref name="kass-gwinnett-order">{{cite web |last1=Kass |first1=Arielle |title=Gwinnett County, cities order residents to stay at home |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/local/gwinnett-county-cities-order-residents-stay-home/Vt50guOjXQMDOK93S2QFWJ/ |publisher=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |access-date=March 29, 2020 |date=March 27, 2020 |archive-date=April 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200409173032/https://www.ajc.com/news/local/gwinnett-county-cities-order-residents-stay-home/Vt50guOjXQMDOK93S2QFWJ/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Georgia cities and counties under executive orders
!Municipality
!Emergency
!Stay-at-home
!Curfew
!Date
!Length
|-
|Athens–Clarke County
|
|Yes
|
|March 19, 2020
|
|-
|Atlanta
|Yes
|Yes
|
|March 23, 2020
|
|-
|[[Cobb County, Georgia|Cobb County]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mdjonline.com/news/cobb-county-declares-state-of-emergency/article_f9ea36cc-6e27-11ea-8eb8-9bc71282d9fc.html|title=Cobb County declares state of emergency|author=Marietta Daily Journal News Staff|website=MDJonline.com|language=en-US|access-date=March 25, 2020|archive-date=January 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105150813/https://www.mdjonline.com/news/cobb-county-declares-state-of-emergency/article_f9ea36cc-6e27-11ea-8eb8-9bc71282d9fc.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/cobb-county-declares-state-of-emergency-orders-residents-to-shelter-in-place|title=Cobb County declares state of emergency, orders residents to 'shelter in place'|author=Fox 5 Atlanta News Staff|website=fox5atlanta.com|date=March 24, 2020|language=en-US|access-date=March 25, 2020|archive-date=January 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105150753/https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/cobb-county-declares-state-of-emergency-orders-residents-to-shelter-in-place|url-status=live}}</ref>
|Yes
|
|
|March 24, 2020
|April 15, 2020
|-
|DeKalb County
|Yes
|Yes
|
|March 28, 2020
|indefinite
|-
|Dougherty County
|
|Yes
|
|March 20, 2020
|
|-
|Effingham County
|Yes
|
|
|March 26, 2020
|
|-
|Gwinnett County
|
|Yes
|
|March 28, 2020
|April 13, 2020
|-
|Savannah
|Yes
|Yes
|
|March 24, 2020
|April 8, 2020
|-
|South Fulton
|
|
|Yes
|March 17, 2020
|
|}

==== Mask mandate conflict ====
Amidst a rise in cases in July 2020, a number of areas enacted mandates requiring the [[Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|wearing of face coverings]] in public spaces when social distancing is not possible, including Atlanta (whose mayor [[Keisha Lance Bottoms]] has been among Georgians who have tested positive; Bottoms also rolled back the city to Phase 1 guidance, discouraging dine-in restaurants).<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp Sued to Block Atlanta's Face Mask Ordinance. Here's What to Know|url=https://time.com/5868613/georgia-governor-brian-kemp-face-mask-atlanta-keisha-lance-bottoms/|access-date=2020-07-25|magazine=Time|archive-date=October 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009093443/https://time.com/5868613/georgia-governor-brian-kemp-face-mask-atlanta-keisha-lance-bottoms/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms tests positive for coronavirus|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/atlanta-mayor-keisha-lance-bottoms-test-positive-coronavirus/|access-date=2020-07-18|website=www.cbsnews.com|language=en-US|archive-date=January 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105150823/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/atlanta-mayor-keisha-lance-bottoms-test-positive-coronavirus/|url-status=live}}</ref> However, Governor Kemp declared such orders to be unenforceable as they are a stricter mitigation than those specified by the state. On July 15, Kemp signed an executive order overruling all mask mandates not issued by the state, and prohibiting any future mandate.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Klar|first=Rebecca|date=2020-07-15|title=Georgia governor overrides all local mask orders in the state|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/507600-georgia-governor-overrides-all-local-mask-orders-in-the-state|access-date=2020-07-16|website=TheHill|language=en|archive-date=October 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009093414/https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/507600-georgia-governor-overrides-all-local-mask-orders-in-the-state|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Bluestein|first=Greg|title=Kemp's office: Mask mandates in Georgia are 'unenforceable'|url=https://www.ajc.com/blog/politics/kemp-office-mask-mandates-georgia-are-unenforceable/IqZR7R53hjSS6aR3MRtmHM/|access-date=2020-07-16|website=Atlanta Journal-Constitution|language=en|archive-date=January 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105150753/https://www.ajc.com/blog/politics/kemp-office-mask-mandates-georgia-are-unenforceable/IqZR7R53hjSS6aR3MRtmHM/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Bluestein|first1=Greg|last2=Brasch|first2=Ben|title=A growing number of Georgia cities require masks over Kemp's objection|url=https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/growing-number-georgia-cities-require-masks-over-kemp-objection/rLK5RODzq1EVJiyebeIi2H/|access-date=2020-07-16|newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|language=en|archive-date=January 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105150741/https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/growing-number-georgia-cities-require-masks-over-kemp-objection/rLK5RODzq1EVJiyebeIi2H/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Furthermore, Kemp filed a lawsuit against the city council of Atlanta and Mayor Bottoms, asserting that she "does not have the legal authority to modify, change or ignore Governor Kemp's executive orders". Bottoms criticized Kemp's action, saying that her order was enforceable and stands, and that "public health experts overwhelmingly agree that wearing a face covering helps slow the spread of this sometimes deadly virus".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp Sues Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms Over Face Mask Order|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/07/16/892109883/georgia-gov-brian-kemp-sues-atlanta-mayor-keisha-lance-bottoms-over-face-mask-or|access-date=2020-07-17|website=NPR.org|date=July 16, 2020 |language=en|archive-date=October 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009093433/https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/07/16/892109883/georgia-gov-brian-kemp-sues-atlanta-mayor-keisha-lance-bottoms-over-face-mask-or|url-status=live|last1=Romo |first1=Vanessa }}</ref>

On August 13, Kemp abruptly dropped the suit, and announced the next day that localized mask mandates would be allowed if certain criteria are met.<ref name="ajc-reversal">{{Cite web|last=Bluestein|first=Greg|title=In reversal, Kemp's new order to let some cities impose mask mandates|url=https://www.ajc.com/politics/politics-blog/kemps-new-order-to-allow-some-cities-to-impose-mask-mandates/Z64MTLEXMVCEFEHESMUEG3BERI/v/|access-date=2020-08-19|website=Atlanta Journal-Constitution|language=en|archive-date=October 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008180357/https://www.ajc.com/politics/politics-blog/kemps-new-order-to-allow-some-cities-to-impose-mask-mandates/Z64MTLEXMVCEFEHESMUEG3BERI/v/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On October 16, State Representative [[Vernon Jones]] expressed his opposition to mask mandates by [[Crowd surfing|crowdsurfing]] without a mask at a 7,000 person campaign rally for DonaldTrump in [[Macon, Georgia|Macon]]. Many rally attendees were also maskless, despite [[Bibb County, Georgia|Bibb County]]'s mask mandate.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Montgomery|first=Blake|date=2020-10-16|title=Georgia Politician Vernon Jones Crowdsurfs Sans Mask at Trump Rally|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/georgia-politician-vernon-jones-crowdsurfs-sans-mask-at-trump-rally|access-date=2020-10-25|website=The Daily Beast|language=en|archive-date=October 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019214110/https://www.thedailybeast.com/georgia-politician-vernon-jones-crowdsurfs-sans-mask-at-trump-rally|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Eason|first=Jenna|date=2020-10-23|title=Did Trump's Macon rally violate Kemp's executive order, Bibb County's mask mandate?|url=https://www.macon.com/news/politics-government/election/article246635618.html|access-date=2020-10-25|website=[[Macon Telegraph]]|archive-date=January 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105150837/https://www.macon.com/news/politics-government/election/article246635618.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In August 2021, Kemp signed a new executive order prohibiting local governments from enforcing mask and vaccination mandates.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Nussbaum|first=Katie|title=City of Savannah pulls permits amid COVID-19 surge; more restrictions possible|url=https://www.savannahnow.com/story/news/2021/08/24/city-savannah-announces-new-covid-19-restrictions-events-permits/5569843001/|access-date=2021-08-24|website=Savannah Morning News|language=en-US}}</ref>