Coronavirus Update In Decatur: Restaurants Open, Local Cases

DECATUR, GA — The coronavirus pandemic continues to affect the metro Atlanta area, Decatur included. Schools are closed for the remainder of the academic year, nonessential businesses have been ordered to temporarily close, a ban has been placed on large gatherings, and more. The order is a way to prevent the risk of the coronavirus spreading in Georgia, according to officials.

As of Friday morning, there have been 176 deaths in the state and more than 5,400 cases in the state. Fulton County's 747 cases are the most of any Georgia locality. The next highest totals are 521 in Dougherty County, DeKalb with 409 cases, Cobb with 341 cases, Gwinnett with 303 cases, Bartow with 153 cases, Carroll with 139 cases and Clayton with 165 cases.

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Of those counties, Dougherty has the most deaths in the state with 30. Fulton has had 23 deaths, Cobb had 17, Lee and Clarke both have had seven. Gwinnett and DeKalb, eight, Bartow, Cherokee and Fayette, each had four. Houston, five and Clayton had six, and Henry, Coweta, Terrell, Rockdale, Chatham, three, and Floyd and Barrow each had two deaths. Douglas and Sumter had three.

Of Georgia's coronavirus cases, 58 percent are between ages 18 and 59, while those above the age of 60 make up 36 percent. People up to age 17 represent 1 percent of cases, and the remaining percentage of cases have unknown ages.

The Georgia Department of Public Health is now including details of the deaths.

The oldest person to die in Georgia from coronavirus was a 95-year-old man from Baker County. It is unknown if he had underlying medical conditions, the report shows. The youngest person was an 11-year-old boy from DeKalb County with underlying medical conditions, according to the DPH.

Here is what happened Thursday in Georgia: GA Coronavirus: 24 New Deaths, Over 1,000 Hospitalized

DECATUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Gov. Brian Kemp ordered Georgia public schools to stay closed for the rest of the 2019-2020 school year. He initially said they would be closed through April 24.

The Decatur school system said Thursday evening that announcements will be made after spring break.

“After the Governor’s announcement yesterday (April 1), several school districts began to release information regarding high-priority topics such as graduation, grading, and awarding course credit. Rest assured that our district leaders are working on these topics and following guidance as it is issued from the Georgia Department of Education.

We are carefully considering all decisions and seeking input from School Leadership Teams, staff, and students where applicable. The Georgia Department of Education continues to support districts making tough decisions and we are consulting with state leaders and other school system leaders on how to best manage all of the waived state and federal rules.”

The next virtual Decatur Board of Education meeting is scheduled for April 14 at 3:30 p.m.

CITY OF DECATUR

Early voting has been suspended. The Georgia Presidential Preference Primary and Special Election is now scheduled for May 19. For details on voting, visit the Secretary of State website.

• City of Decatur office buildings are closed to the public.
• Decatur Visitors Center is closed until further notice.
• Ebster and Decatur Recreation Centers are closed until further notice.
• Oakhurst Indoor Pool are closed until further notice.
• Glenlake Tennis Center is closed until further notice.
• Playgrounds are off-limits until further notice.
• After school activities are canceled until further notice.
• Decatur libraries are closed until further notice.

POLICE

• Patrol functions and response to 911 calls will operate as normal.
• Incident reports that do not involve a suspect present at a scene or the processing of evidence will be handled by phone.
• The Police Department is closed to the public. If an in-person visit in needed, people are instructed to press the button on the intercom at the front door and an officer will meet them.
• Open records requests for police matters should be made via email to Deputy Chief Scott Richards at scott.richards@decaturga.com.
• The police are urging people to obtain accident reports through https://buycrash.com/.
• Background check services, alcohol server permits and door-to-door solicitation permits are not being provided at this time.
• All classes, meetings, events, ride-a-longs and tours are temporarily suspended until further notice.

For all non-emergency questions and concerns call 404-373-6551.

Sanitation and Recycling services will remain as scheduled with the following exceptions beginning Thursday, March 19:

• Curbside pickup only. People can call 404-377-5571 if they are unable to bring trash to the curb.
• Curbside collection of yard waste has been suspended during the COVID-19 emergency. People are being asked to not place bundled and bagged yard waste at the curb until further notice. Instead, they are asked to identify a place on their property away from roads, creeks, and drainage ditches to store any collected materials until curbside collection of leaves, sticks, and grass clippings resumes.
• Neighborhood Clean Up days have been rescheduled for the fall.

Georgia Aquarium: Closed
Children's Museum of Atlanta: Closed
Gym: Closed

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