Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp extended a statewide order until Aug. 15 which maintains the status quo of his previous order for the state dealing with COVID-19 (coronavirus).
In the order the governor said all residents shall practice social distancing and strongly encouraged the use of face coverings when outside their home or place of residence.
It also limits gathering to less than 50 people.
People in nursing homes or who are medical fragile are still ordered to shelter in place.
Restrictions remain in place for restaurants for screening employees and requiring staff to wear face coverings while interacting with customers, distancing patrons six feet apart along with other regulations.
Other restrictions for businesses which have been in place for months were maintained.
The extension comes as Gilmer County itself has seen a spike in coronavirus cases.
According to the Georgia Department of Public Health’s website, the county has seen a rise of 156 confirmed cases in the last two weeks. The current total for confirmed cases in Gilmer County is 518 as of Aug. 3. Coronavirus has caused 48 county residents to be hospitalized during the outbreak and three people from the county have died.
According to a White House report dated July 14, 2020, Georgia is a red zone for cases. The criteria is more than 100 new cases of coronavirus for every 100,000 people and a test positivity of above 10 percent.
A heat map of the state of Georgia by the Georgia Department of Health which shades counties from white to yellow to orange to red based on the number of cases in the last two weeks, Gilmer County is orange, indicating a spike.
Health officials have been touting social distancing, wearing face coverings, staying out of large groups and washing hands as ways people can combat the spread of coronavirus.
“A face covering is just part of the mitigation chain we are trying to increase awareness of,” said Keith Kucera, Gilmer County’s Public Safety director. “And, also, being respectful of others.”
Gilmer County’s community paramedicine program has been working with the health department and some local businesses to promote these ideas.