WASHINGTON COUNTY, Ga. — Washington and Dodge counties are now joining a growing list of communities issuing curfews due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Both counties also declared state of emergencies on Monday.
WASHINGTON COUNTY
In a Facebook post Monday, the Washington County Sheriff's Office says the Board of Commissioners consulted with the county Board of Health and Emergency Management Agency before declaring a state of emergency.
The declaration stops gatherings of 10 or more people including church services, funerals, family reunions, and political events starting Tuesday.
A curfew for nonessential travel was also issued between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., the Facebook post says. This does not include work-related travel and emergency situations. The curfew starts Monday night.
The post makes it clear the declaration does NOT stop businesses with 10 or more employees from operating.
This comes as the Georgia Department of Public Health reported the county's first confirmed case of COVID-19 Monday at noon.
The declaration is in place until further notice.
DODGE COUNTY
Dodge County's state of emergency includes the city of Eastman and will last at least through April 20.
The declaration stops all in-person services at Eastman City Hall and restricts public access to city buildings. You must now make an appointment to visit.
The declaration also stops public and in-person dining, but restaurants an offer take out options. Unopened containers of beer and wine can also be sold for take out.
Customers are not allowed inside the business to order, and employees must maintain a safe distance of six feet from each other.
The county and city of Eastman encourage the elderly to stay at home, businesses to allow employees to work remotely, and people to maintain a proper social distance.
The declaration issues a curfew banning all nonessential travel between 10 p.m. and 6 p.m. The curfew starts Monday night and should last at least through April 20.
Dodge County does not have a confirmed COVID-19 case at this time, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health.
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