Kemp lifts more restrictions on 65+, dining, public gatherings

Kemp executive order

Another gradual lifting of restrictions due to COVID-19 was announced by Gov. Brian Kemp on Thursday, including removal of a general shelter-in-place order for Georgia citizens aged 65 and older that had been in place since March.

The order, which begins on Tuesday, June 16, and continues through June 30, also relaxes restrictions on a wide variety of public gatherings, including sports competitions, summer camps, live performances, conventions and restaurants and bars.

(You can read the full order here.)

Gatherings of up to 50 people will be allowed with social distancing requirements.

Starting on Tuesday, there won’t be a party maximum for the number of people who can sit together, nor will there be a limit on the number of patrons allowed per square foot.

Workers at restaurants, bars, banquet facilities and other private event facilities won’t have to wear face masks unless they’re interacting with patrons.

Bars will be allowed to have 50 people, or 35 percent of the total listed fire capacity, whichever number is greater.

Cafeteria-style service at salad bars and buffets is allowed if the restaurant provides hand sanitizer and sneeze guard, practices social distancing and replaces self-service utensils.

Also starting Tuesday, indoor movie theaters and cinemas won’t have to limit the number of people seated together in a party.

Walk-in customers will be allowed at body art studios, barber shops, hair salons, massage therapy establishments and tanning facilities.

The order also requires professional sports teams and organizations to follow the rules and guidelines set by their respective leagues. High school and collegiate teams and organizations must follow rules and guidelines set by their conferences or associations. Amateur sports teams and organizations must follow criteria for non-critical infrastructure entities in the order.

Those attending or working overnight summer camps must prove they have received a negative COVID-19 test within 12 days—an increase from seven days—prior to the starting date of a camp.

Two other major areas of restrictions to be eased will be effective July 1.

Conventions, trade shows, exhibitions and business retreats (100 people or more) will be allowed if they meet 21 specific requirements and get a special permit.

That does not pertain to regular religious services, business meetings or sporting events.

Also on July 1, live performance venues may reopen if they meet specific criteria based on three tiers of activities.

A shelter-in-place order still applies to the following:

Those persons who live in a nursing home or long-term care facility, including inpatient hospice, assisted living communities, personal care homes, intermediate care homes, community living arrangements, and community integration homes
Those persons who have chronic lung disease
Those persons who have moderate to severe asthma
Those persons who have severe heart disease
Those persons who are immunocompromised
Those persons, of any age, with class III or severe obesity
Those persons diagnosed with the following underlying medical conditions: diabetes, liver disease, and persons with chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis.