Jasper mayor explains city's emergency declaration/shelter in place order

By Dave Williams
Bureau Chief
Capitol Beat News Service
     ATLANTA - Gov. Brian Kemp Thursday ordered Georgia’s public schools closed through April 24 as cases of coronavirus continue to rise.
   "I am deeply grateful to State School Superintendent Richard Woods, the Georgia Department of Education, superintendents, and parents for keeping us informed and helping us make the right decision for our students,” Kemp said in a prepared statement.
    "Throughout this process, we will continue to seek the advice of public health officials, school leaders, and families to ensure the health and safety of the educational community. As we approach April 24, 2020, we ask for continued patience and flexibility since circumstances may change, but we encourage families to stay strong and follow the guidance of federal, state, and local leaders in the weeks ahead."

Click here for the full ordinace from Pickens County, which includes information about essential businesses and travel restrictions. 

Press Release from Pickens County Government

After reviewing the executive order of Governor Brian Kemp and consulting with the Pickens County Board of Health, the Department of Public Health and Piedmont Mountainside Hospital officials, the Board of Commissioners declared a local state of emergency and enacted emergency ordinances this afternoon. This declaration is effective immediately through April 7, 2020 at 11:59pm. A few key items within the emergency ordinances:

Please continue to monitor our website at www.pickenscountyga.gov for updates and to access the full emergency ordinance.

See related story Break the chain': How will Georgia halt the spread of coronavirus?

By Beau Evans
Staff Writer
Capitol Beat News Service
    ATLANTA - How far should Georgia go to curb the spread of coronavirus while also protecting the economy from collapse?

    It’s a question state and local leaders are grappling with as COVID-19 continues sickening Georgians at a rapid pace and has led to nearly three dozen deaths as of noon Tuesday.

 Many officials and observers worry executive orders Gov. Brian Kemp issued this week may not go far enough to slow the virus’s transmission rate. Others say leaders across the country are left with few options due to the small number of tests that have been conducted so far.

Good Morning,

The City has continued to monitor and evaluate the COVID-19 issue and its effect on our local jurisdiction. Since my last correspondence from Friday, March 20, 2020, there have been 2 confirmed reports of positive cases for Pickens County (sourced through the Georgia Department of Public Health). 

As such we will be exercising certain elements from the Emergency Ordinance that was enacted this past Thursday, March 19, 2020 during the Special Called City Council Meeting.

Out of an abundance of caution and for the health and safety of our community due to the