Your Voice: Georgians Respond As Shelter-In-Place Ends
Plastic bags mark off seats to promote social distancing at a Waffle House restaurant in Savannah, Georgia. Kemp’s order allowing some businesses to re-open also requires them to take extra precautions, like providing workers with masks.
Russ Bynum / Associated Press
While the state’s shelter-in-place order has ended for most people, the Governor says medically-fragile and elderly people should continue to stay home through mid-June.
Michelle Cox says that’s what she plans to do.
“I have sarcoidosis in my lungs, I’m battling breast cancer, and I had a hip fracture before the holidays,” she says. “I really can’t go outside.”
She says she’s worried that Gov. Brian Kemp loosened up restrictions too early.
“I’m terrified that I will run into this COVID thing, and it will be very detrimental for me. But for everybody that’s out, I’m hoping that everyone is practicing social distancing, I’m hoping that they’re wearing masks and gloves still,” she says.
State officials are still encouraging people to wear masks and practice social distancing as businesses reopen.
But not everyone’s getting the message.
“I do not believe the governor’s orders are being followed,” Alpharetta resident Addie McBurnie says.
Kemp’s order allowing some businesses to reopen also requires them to take extra precautions, like providing workers with masks. But McBurnie says when she’s gone out to pick up food from restaurants, she’s seen employees without them.
“Foodservice places are trying to keep their businesses open, but we have these laws and policies in place to protect our well-being so that we can keep businesses open, and it’s just very concerning to me,” she says.
Engagement at WABE is powered, in part, by our collaboration with America Amplified, a Corporation for Public Broadcasting-funded initiative to use community engagement in our reporting.
Top Stories
