What you need to know about COVID-19 in Columbus, Muscogee County
Overview
- Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp issued a coronavirus shelter-in-place order from April 2 to April 13 and extended it through April 30.
- Kemp eased coronavirus restrictions on May 27 to help Georgia get to a “new normal.”
- Graphs have been created to help Georgians follow coronavirus curve.
- Columbus health district moves to appointment-only COVID-19 testing
- Kemp extends COVID-19 restrictions, officially bans mask mandates
- Use this map to see how many COVID-19 cases, deaths occur in your zip code
- Kemp partners with politically connected lab whose COVID-19 tests had problems in 3 states
- Columbus moved to COVID-19 yellow zone, latest White House report says
Quarantine and stay at home guidelines
- Georgia’s shelter-in-place order expired April 30, but officials are recommending residents still practice CDC social distancing guidelines.
- Columbus Mayor Skip Henderson issued the first stay-at-home order on March 25 and extended it through the end of April. The Columbus order includes additional restrictions.
- Kemp’s newest order easing restrictions allows bars, nightclubs to reopen.
Mask mandates
Brian Kemp addresses mask mandate challenge in Columbus tour stop.
Legal barriers may prevent Columbus requiring masks to prevent COVID-19 spread.
Partial mask mandate could be issued in Columbus, mayor says
Kemp extends COVID-19 restrictions, officially bans mask mandates
With no mask mandate in Georgia, Columbus businesses issue their own
How will Columbus’ face mask order work?
Closures
- Gov. Kemp eased restrictions on business closures, leaving some Columbus officials and businesses torn on whether to re-open.
- Muscogee County schools are closed through the end of the 2019-2020 school year. All playgrounds are closed.
- Restaurants are open for takeout and delivery only; grocery stories and pharmacies are open.
Some Columbus parks and recreation facilities have reopened. Here’s a list.
Elections
- Here’s how Columbus voters can cast absentee ballots by mail during the election-year coronavirus crisis.
Events and amenities
- Kemp’s newest order easing restrictions allows groups of people to commence at places like church with social distancing enforced. Movie theaters dine-in services at restaurants will re-open April 27.
Some businesses in Columbus, including rafting and zip lining, are reopening for the summer season.
Columbus Museum is donating nearly 5,000 free activity books to school districts.
Business earnings
- How much did COVID-19 affect Aflac, Global Payments and Synovus? Here’s what their Q1 financial results said.
Which Columbus companies were approved for at least $150k in PPP loans?
How did COVID-19 affect Aflac, Global Payments, Synovus in Q2?
Healthcare status
- Coronavirus-related hospitalizations continue to grow; projections say a Columbus-area hospital bed shortage is likely; Columbus has opened a facility for treatment of COVID-19 patients.
As Georgia continues to combat COVID-19, tracking the spread of cases and deaths across the state remains important. These graphs, which use data from the DPH’s daily status updates, are meant to help you do that.
14 Columbus churches came together to provide supplies amid COVID-19
School, high school sports updates
Muscogee County School District announced plans for students to drop off, pick up school materials.
MCSD proposes property tax increase due to COVID-19 losses.
High school football will look different in the Chattahoochee Valley this summer due to COVID-19.
Will Columbus schools reopen in August? Here are their plans.
Muscogee County football teams begin prep for the start of summer workouts amid COVID-19.
Harris County releases reopening plan for schools amid COVID-19
Muscogee County considers furloughs to deal with budget shortfall.
Columbus State faculty push for online classes this fall in letter to admin.
GHSA is delaying the start of high school football season
What to know about Columbus-area school reopenings
Muscogee County school board approves property tax rate for next fiscal year
MCSD superintendent changes reopening plan for Columbus schools
Local Catholic paster in ICU with COVID-19, church says
Sporting updates
- High school football is back in Muscogee County, and in the Chattahoochee Valley.
Here’s what happens if a MCSD athlete tests positive for COVID-19.
Fountain City Classic will not be played in 2020 due to COVID-19
Upset parents appeal decision to cancel Harris County youth football amid COVID-19
Muscogee County School District is limiting attendance at sporting events
How to help
- Here’s available help amid coronavirus in the Columbus area.
Public Transport
- Bus transportation information for the Columbus area is available on METRA Transit System’s Facebook page.
Updated: 08/27/2020 4:00 p.m.
This story was originally published April 28, 2020 at 10:05 AM.
