Atlanta, GA – Georgia Governor Brian Kemp issued an Executive Order late Thursday targeted at “Reviving a Healthy Georgia.”

The latest Order includes information about how businesses, such as restaurants with dine-in services, can resume operations on Monday, April 27th, in addition to previously issued guidelines for businesses that were allowed to reopen on Friday, April 24th.

Here are the highlights for restaurants:

• No more than 10 patrons are allowed in a restaurant per 500 square feet.
• Employees must wear a mask at all times.
• Employers must screen and evaluate workers who exhibit signs of illness, such as a fever over 100.4 degrees and a cough or shortness of breath.
• No more than six people are allowed per table.
• Salad bars and buffets are NOT allowed
• Self service items are NOT allowed, such as drink machines, condiments, utensils and tableware stations. Workers must provide these items to patrons.
• Restaurants are encouraged to use disposable menus.
• Restaurants are encouraged to move to a reservation-only business model or call ahead for seating.

These guidelines are in addition to other social distancing and sanitation mandates.

The Order also touches on several other topics:

• Medically fragile and elderly Georgians should make plans to shelter in place at least through May 13^th – this includes individuals over the age of 65, those in nursing homes or long-term care facilities, or those with compromised immune systems.
• There are new, less restrictive guidelines for Critical Infrastructure and Non-Critical Infrastructure businesses.
• Public swimming pools, bars, operators of amusement park rides, and live performance venues will remain closed until May 13^th.
• The following areas in gyms and fitness centers must remain closed: pools, basketball courts or other group sport areas, hot tubs, steam rooms and tanning beds.
• Movie theaters must seat people six-feet apart, ushers must ensure social distancing, seating must be thoroughly sanitized between showings, party and arcade rooms are closed, and tape must be applied to the floor in the concessions and ticketing areas showing people where to stand in line to practice social distancing.
• Comprehensive on-the-road driving tests are no longer required for those needing a driver’s license.
• Businesses not adhering to guidelines can be closed down after two citations.