Columbus closes government buildings to public due to coronavirus. How to still access services
Columbus city leaders announced Friday that they are closing all government buildings to the general public while offering alternative ways to access city services.
“General public access to all government buildings will be prohibited; however, all city departments will remain open and will provide services to citizens in a modified/non-traditional way,” the city said in a news release Friday afternoon from Mayor Skip Henderson’s office.
“This newest administrative action is a further attempt to limit the rapid spread of this disease so that our local hospitals can manage potential cases without being overwhelmed all at one time,” it said. “If Columbus can do that, hospitals will be able to more effectively utilize care and resources for those who need them.”
The announcement follows Gov. Brian Kemp’s order that Georgians “shelter at home” for two weeks, avoiding all nonessential travel and any gatherings of 10 or more people. That order, which does not prohibit trips to buy food, medicine or other necessities, takes effect at 6 p.m. Friday and expires at 11:59 p.m. April 13.
The Georgia Department of Public Health reported Friday that the state had 5,831 COVID-19 cases with 1,158 patients in hospitals. It said 184 Georgians had died from the disease.
Information on how to access city government services, including phone numbers and websites, is available below:
This story was originally published April 3, 2020 at 5:07 PM.