FIRST AMENDED DECLARATION OF LOCAL EMERGENCY "SHELTER AT HOME"
WHEREAS, on March 19, 2020, pursuant to the authority vested in me by Title 38, Chapter 3 of the Official Code of Georgia and the City's Emergency and Disaster Management Ordinance, Code of Ordinances, Part 3, Chapter 3, I issued an Emergency Declaration, which implemented measures intended to slow the pace of the COVID-19 outbreak; and
WHEREAS, since March 19th, the disease has continued to spread throughout Georgia, including four confirmed positive cases in Chatham County with certainly more to come; and
WHEREAS, it appears that additional measures are required to slow the spread of COVID19 to the maximum extent possible, while enabling essential services to continue; and
WHEREAS, this Order is issued based upon evidence of the increasing occurrence of COVID-19 within the City and Chatham County area, scientific evidence and best practices regarding the most effective practices regarding the most effective approaches to slow the transmission of communicable diseases generally and COVID-19 specifically, and evidence that the age, condition, and health of a significant portion of the population of the City places it at risk for serious health complications, including death; and
WHEREAS, emergency conditions persist within the City requiring extraordinary and immediate corrective actions for the protection of the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the City of Savannah; and
WHEREAS, to prevent or minimize injury to people, certain actions are required.
NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the authority vested in me by local and state law;
IT IS HEREBY DECLARED that a local state of emergency continues to exist, which will continue until the conditions requiring this First Amended Declaration are abated.
THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED WITHIN THE TERRITORIAL JURISDICTIONAL LIMITS OF THE CITY OF SAVANNAH:
1. All individuals currently living within the City of Savannah are ordered to shelter at their place of residence. To the extent individuals are using shared or outdoor spaces, they must at all times as reasonably possible maintain social distancing of at least six feet from any other person when they are outside their residence. All persons may leave their residences only for Essential Activities, Essential Governmental Functions, or to operate Essential Businesses as defined herein. Individuals experiencing homelessness are exempt from this Section, but are strongly encouraged to obtain shelter, and entities offering shelter services are urged to make it available as soon as possible and to the maximum extent practicable (and to use COVID-19 risk mitigation practices in their operation).
2. All businesses with a facility in the City, except Essential Businesses as defined herein, are required to cease all activities at facilities located within the City except Minimum Basic Operations, as defined herein. For clarity, businesses may also continue operations consisting exclusively for employees or contractors performing activities at their own residences (i.e., working from home). To the greatest extent feasible, Essential Businesses shall comply with Social Distancing Requirements as defined herein, including by maintaining six-foot social distancing for both employees and members of the public, including, but not limited to, when any customers are standing in line.
3. All public and private gatherings of any number of people occurring outside a single household or living unit are prohibited, except for the limited purposes as expressly permitted in this Order. Nothing in this Order prohibits the gathering of members of a household or living unit.
4. All travel, including but not limited to, travel on foot, bicycle, scooter, motorcycle, automobile, or public transit, except Essential Travel and Essential Activities as defined below, is prohibited. People must use public transit only for purposes of performing Essential Activities or to travel to and from work to operate Essential Businesses or maintain Essential Governmental Functions. People riding on public transit must comply with Social Distancing Requirements as defined below, to the greatest extent feasible. This Order allows travel into or out of the City to perform Essential Activities, operate Essential Businesses, or maintain Essential Governmental Functions.
5. For purposes of this Order, individuals may leave their residence only to perform any of the following Essential Activities. But people at high risk of severe illness from COVID19 and people who are sick are urged to stay in their residence to the extent possible except as necessary to seek medical care.
a) To engage in activities or perform tasks essential to their health and safety, or to the health and safety of their family or household members (including, but not limited to, pets), such as, by way of example only and without limitation, obtaining medical supplies or medication, visiting a health care professional, or obtaining supplies they need to work from home.
b) To obtain necessary services or supplies for themselves and their family or household members, or to deliver those services or supplies to others, such as, by way of example only and without limitation, canned food, dry goods, fresh fruits and vegetables, pet supplies, fresh meats, fish, and poultry, and any other household consumer products, and products necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation, and essential operation ofresidences.
c) To engage in outdoor activity, provided the individuals comply with Social Distancing Requirements as defined herein, such as, by way of example and without limitation, walking, hiking, or running.
d) To perform work providing essential products and services at an Essential Business or to otherwise carry out activities specifically permitted in this Order, including Minimum Basic Operations.
e) To care for a family member or pet in another household.
6. For purposes of this Order, individuals may leave their residence to work for or obtain services at any Healthcare Operations including hospitals, clinics, dentists, pharmacies, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, other healthcare facilities, healthcare suppliers, home healthcare services providers, mental health providers, or any related and/or ancillary healthcare services. Healthcare Operations also includes veterinary care and all healthcare services provided to animals. This exemption shall be broadly construed to avoid any impacts to the delivery of healthcare, broadly defined. Healthcare Operations does not include fitness and exercise gyms and similar facilities.
7. For purposes of this Order, individuals may leave their residence to provide any services or perform any work necessary to the operations of maintenance of "Essential Infrastructure," including, but not limited to, public works construction, construction of housing (in particular affordable housing or housing for individuals experiencing homelessness), airport operations, water, sewer, gas, electrical, oil refining, roads and highways, public transportation, solid waste collection and removal, internet and telecommunications systems (including the provision of essential global, national, and local infrastructure for computing services, business infrastructure, communications, and web-based services), provided that they carry out those services or that work in compliance with Social Distancing Requirements as defined herein, to the extent possible.
8. For purposes of this Order, all first responders, emergency management personnel, emergency dispatchers, court personnel, and law enforcement personnel, and others working for or to support Essential Businesses are categorically exempt from this Order. Further, nothing in this Order shall prohibit any individual from performing or accessing Essential Governmental Functions. Essential Governmental Functions means all services needed to ensure the continuing operation of the government agencies and provide for the health, safety, and welfare of the public. All Essential Governmental Functions shall be performed in compliance with Social Distancing Requirements as defined herein, to the extent possible.
9. For purposes of this Order, Essential Businesses means:
(a) Healthcare Operations and Essential Infrastructure;
(b) Grocery stores, liquor stores, certified farmers' markets, farm and produce stands, supermarkets, food banks, convenience stores, and other establishments engaged in the retail sale of canned food, dry goods, fresh fruits and vegetables, pet supplies, fresh meats, fish, and poultry, and any other household consumer products (such as cleaning and personal care products). This includes stores that sell groceries and also sell other non
grocery products, and products necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences;
(c) Food cultivation, including farming, livestock, and fishing;
(d) Businesses that provide food, shelter, and social services, and other necessities of life for economically disadvantaged or otherwise needy individuals;
(e) Newspapers, television, radio, and other media services;
(f) Gas stations and auto-supply, auto-repair, collision centers and related facilities;
(g) Banks and related financial institutions;
(h) Hardware and home supply stores;
(i) Plumbers, electricians, exterminators, and other service providers who provide services that are necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences, Essential Activities, and Essential Businesses;
(k) Businesses providing mailing and shipping services, including post office boxes;
(1) Educational institutions-including public and private K-12 schools, colleges, and universities-for purposes of facilitating distance learning or performing essential functions, provided that social distancing of six-feet per person is maintained to the greatest extent possible;
(m) Laundromats, dry cleaners, and laundry service providers;
(n) Restaurants and other facilities that prepare and serve food, but only for delivery or carry out, which may include the sale of packaged beer and wine in their original, sealed containers for consumption beyond the licensed seller's premises. Schools and other entities that typically provide free food services to students or members of the public may continue to do so under this Order on the condition that the food is provided to students or members of the public on a pick-up and take-away basis only. Schools and other entities that provide food services under this exemption shall not permit the food to be eaten at the site where it is provided, or at any other gathering site on school premises; '
( o) Businesses that supply products needed for people to work from home;
(p) Businesses that supply other essential businesses with the support or supplies necessary to operate;
( q) Businesses that ship or deliver groceries, food, goods, or services directly to residences;
(r) Airlines, taxis, and other private transportation providers providing transportation services necessary for Essential Activities and other purposes expressly authorized in this Order;
(s) Home-based care for seniors, adults, or children;
(t) Residential facilities and shelters for seniors, adults, and children;
(u) Professional services, such as legal or accounting services, when necessary to assist in compliance with legally mandated activities;
(v) Childcare facilities providing services that enable employees exempted in this Order to work are permitted. To the extent possible, childcare facilities must operate under the following mandatory conditions:
(1) Childcare must be carried out in stable groups of 12 or fewer ("stable" means that the same 12 or fewer children are in the same group each day).
(2) Children shall not change from one group to another.
(3) If more than one group of children is cared for at one facility, each group shall be in a separate room. Groups shall not mix with each other.
( 4) Childcare providers shall remain solely with one group of children.
(w) Critical Infrastructure Sectors, as set forth at https://www.cisa.2:ov//criticalinfrastructure-sectors, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
(x) Any private construction project for which a valid permit has been issued as of the date of signing of the 1st Amended Declaration shall be allowed to continue.
10. For purposes of this Order, Minimum Basic Operations include the following, provided that employees comply with Social Distancing Requirements as defined herein, to the extent possible, while carrying out such operations:
(a) The minimum necessary to maintain the value of the business's inventory, ensure security, process payroll and employee benefits, or for related functions.
(b) The minimum necessary activities to facilitate employees of the business being able to continue to work remotely from their residences.
11. For purposes ofthis Order, Essential Travel includes travel for any of the following purposes. Individuals engaged in any Essential Travel must comply with all Social Distancing Requirements, as defined herein.
(a) Any travel related to the provision of or access to Essential Activities, Essential Governmental Functions, Essential Businesses, or Minimum Basic Operations.
(b) Travel to care for elderly, minors, dependents, persons with disabilities, or other vulnerable persons.
(c) Travel to or from educational institutions for purposes of rece1vmg materials for distance learning, for receiving meals, and any other related services.
( d) Travel to return to a place of residence from outside the jurisdiction.
( e) Travel required by law enforcement or court order.
(f) Travel required for non-residents to return to their places of residence outside the City. Individuals are strongly encouraged to verify that their transportation out of the City remains available and functional prior to commencing such travel.
12. For purposes of this Order, residences include hotels, motels, shared rental units, and similar facilities.
13. For purposes of this Order, Social Distancing Requirements includes maintaining at least 6-foot social distancing from other individuals, washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds as frequently as possible or using hand sanitizer, covering coughs or sneezes (into the sleeve or elbow, not hands), regularly cleaning high-touch surfaces, and not shaking hands.
14. Open air City parks and squares shall remain open; provided, however, Social Distancing Requirements are followed to the greatest extent possible.
15. Public swimming pools, playgrounds, playing fields, basketball courts, and tennis courts shall be closed.
16. Barber shops, beauty parlors, and personal care salons may remain open; provided, however, Social Distancing Requirements shall be followed to the greatest extent possible.
17. To the extent not superseded by this First Amended Declaration, the Emergency Declaration of March 19, 2020 remains in effect and is hereby extended until 12:00 a.m. on April 8, 2020 unless otherwise amended, extended, or cancelled by the Mayor.
18. This Declaration shall take effect at 11 :59 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, 2020.
19. This Declaration shall expire at 12:00 a.m. on April 8, 2020 unless otherwise amended, extended, or cancelled by the Mayor.
20. If any provision of this Order or its application to any person or circumstance is held to be invalid, then the remainder of the Order, including the application of such part or provision to other persons or circumstances, shall not be affected and shall continue in full force and effect. To this end, the provisions of this Order are severable.
21. Any person found to be in violation of this First Amended Declaration shall be subject to citation to Recorder's Court and penalty as set forth in City Code Section 1-1013. n ' . c:: ,n h SO DECLARED AND ENTERED at _ _:i ___ ~ ~- _D,_;m. on this 24t day of March 2020.
Attested