Restaurants around Georgia can now open dining rooms. What to know about new guidelines

Restaurant dining rooms and movie theaters have the go-ahead to reopen for customers Monday in Georgia due to Governor Brian Kemp’s most recent executive order, which also called for the reopening of some businesses such as beauty salons, tattoo shops and bowling alleys on Friday.

Restaurants that choose to reopen their dining rooms must also follow safety guidelines issued by Kemp to prevent the spread of COVID-19. As of noon Monday, the state had 23,773 coronavirus cases, up by 292 from 7 p.m. Sunday.

Here are some of the guidelines business must follow:

Restaurants

• No more than 10 patrons per 500 square feet shall be allowed inside a restaurant at a time
• Employers must screen and evaluate workers who exhibit signs of illness such as fever over 100.4 degrees, cough, or shortness of breath
• Employees must wear face masks at all times
• Employees who are sick must not report to work; an employee with known or suspected COVID-19 must self-isolate for at least seven days after symptom onset and must be symptom-free for three consecutive days before returning to work
• Restaurants must discontinue use of salad bars and buffets
• Party size at tables must be limited to no more than six
• Signs must be posted at entrances that no one with a fever or symptoms of COVID-19 may enter
• Dining room or restaurant playgrounds must be closed
• Patrons must not be allowed to congregate while waiting for a table; restaurants must ensure patron separation through floor markings, outdoor distancing or waiting in cars until called
• Hand sanitizer must be provided for use by patrons
• Six feet of separation must be kept between seating of different parties
• Rolled silverware must be used and self-service drink, condiment, utensil and tableware items must be removed; workers will supply patrons with those items when necessary

Movie theaters

• Each party of patrons must be seated at least six feet apart
• No party seated together may number more than six individuals
• Seats, armrests, handrails, doors, doorknobs and door handles in each theater must be sanitized before and after each showing
• Social distancing must be enforced for patrons waiting in line
• Theaters may not host parties or gatherings
• Any arcade rooms and playgrounds must be closed

Also under the order, in-person church services are allowed with implementation of strict social distancing; hospitals are allowed to resume elective surgeries deemed essential; and bars, nightclubs, live performance venues and amusement parks will remain closed.

The state’s shelter-in-place order remains in effect through the end of April.

Violating the governor’s order is a misdemeanor. To report potential violations, citizens can contact their local sheriff’s department by dialing 706-653-4225 for the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office; dialing 770-254-7201 for the local Department of Public Safety Communication Center (Troop D); or calling the Department of Natural Resources at 1-800-241-4113.

The full text of the order can be found at the governor’s website, under “Providing guidance for reviving a healthy Georgia in response to COVID-19.”