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Restaurants across Georgia can continue to offer dine-in services, despite increasing cases of the new coronavirus and local officials' subsequent efforts to tighten restrictions.
Countering guidelines included an announcement issued by Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp confirmed that statewide food service establishments are permitted to remain open in comments shared to Twitter on Friday.
Kemp called Bottoms' guidance — which called for Atlanta businesses to return to Phase I of the Georgia's reopening plan — "both non-binding and legally unenforceable," since the governor's orders prevent local leaders from implementing regulations that depart from state requirements.
"As clearly stated in my executive orders, no local action can be more or less restrictive, and that rule applies statewide," Kemp wrote, noting that Georgia residents and businesses are expected to operate under the terms of his office's June 29 order only. The order was passed as state health officials began to report a spike in COVID-19 cases, and listed a series of heightened safety requirements to reduce risk of transmission.
"These common-sense measures will help protect the lives and livelihoods of al Georgians," Kemp continued on Twitter Friday.
The Georgia Restaurant Association formally backed Kemp's reopening plan in a statement released on Saturday.
"The Georgia Restaurant Association (GRA) remains supportive of the latest Executive Order issued on June 29, 2020 by Governor Brian Kemp," its statement read. "The inconsistencies of different municipal orders which may be difficult to enforce, have crated much confusion for small businesses that are already struggling to regain dine-in guests and to reemploy the thousands of workers displaced during the COVID-19 pandemic."
Georgia was one of the first U.S. states to reopen restaurants and other businesses at the end of April, following the termination of its stay-at-home order. Atlanta restaurants entered Phase II of the governor's reopening guidelines roughly one month later.
Bottoms announced two sets of local restrictions last week, as Atlanta reported record daily increases in new virus cases and an ongoing surge in related hospital admissions. The first, released on Wednesday, directed Atlanta resident to wear face coverings in public spaces. The second, released on Friday, called for a suspension of restaurant dine-in services and restricted retailers to curbside pickup. It also encouraged individuals to "stay home except for essential trips" and said non-essential municipal government facilities would remain closed.
"Based upon the surge of COVID-19 cases and other data trends, pursuant to the recommendations of our Reopening Advisory Committee, Atlanta will return to Phase I of our reopening plan," said the mayor in a statement released alongside Friday's announcement. "Georgia reopened in a reckless manner and the people of our city and state are suffering the consequences."
Local officials in other cities with higher incidences of COVID-19 have announced face mask orders similar to Atlanta's. The city's mask ordinance is enforceable, even though Kemp has not issued a statewide mandate that includes such requirements.
Newsweek reached out to the Georgia Restaurant Association and Kemp's office for comments, but did not receive replies in time for publication.
