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JOINT RESOLUTION DECLARING STATE OF EMERGENCY IN ROME/FLOYD/CAVE SPRING

 Floyd County and the City of Rome in association with the Georgia DPH, Floyd Medical, Harbin Clinic, Redmond Regional Medical Center –

JOINT RESOLUTION DECLARING STATE OF EMERGENCY IN THE COUNTY OF FLOYD, THE CITY OF ROME, GEORGIA, AND THE CITY OF CAVE SPRING,
GEORGIA ESTABLISHING THE CLOSURE OF ALL BARS AND RESTAURANTS AND PROCEDURES FOR TAKE OUT OR DELIVERY OF FOOD ONLY, BANNING
GATHERINGS OVER 10 PEOPLE, PROVIDING FOR DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION, TO PROVIDE FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE, AND FOR OTHER

PURPOSES:

WHEREAS, the President of the United States declared a National Public Health Emergency

on Friday March 13, 2020; and

WHEREAS, the Governor of the State of Georgia declared a State of Emergency in Georgia on

March 14, 2020; and

WHEREAS, the World Health Organization has declared Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-
19) a world health emergency and a pandemic influenza emergency; and

WHEREAS, Georgia law allows for the suspension of certain laws, rules, ordinances and
orders during a declared state of emergency, and authorizes the County and both
Cities to waive compliance with time-consuming procedures and formalities;

WHEREAS, the Georgia law grants to Floyd County, the City of Rome, and the City of Cave
Spring the power to protect the safety, health, and welfare of the public; and
WHEREAS, Georgia law also grants to Floyd County, the City of Rome, and the City of Cave
Spring the power to declare an emergency and “to pass all laws and ordinances
they may consider necessary for the peace, good order, health, prosperity,
comfort and security of the city, and of the inhabitants thereof”,
and

WHEREAS, the President of the United States has recommended that any gathering over 10

people be discontinued or prohibited; and

WHEREAS, The Northwest Georgia medical and public health leaders have worked diligently,
closely and collaboratively to respond aggressively to the COVID-19 impact in
Floyd County, the City of Rome, the City of Cave Spring, and the surrounding
communities, and on March 19, 2020, sent a letter to the Elected Officials
strongly urging action to temporarily close restaurants, bars and other places
where individuals gather for socialization ( a copy of said letter is attached as
Exhibit “A” and incorporated herein); and

COUNTY OF FLOYD
CITY OF ROME
CITY OF CAVE SPRING
STATE OF GEORGIA

JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Floyd County, the City of Rome, and the City of Cave Spring do not have the
personnel or resources to monitor and police a distancing or gathering limitation.
NOW THEREFORE, in a public and specially called emergency meeting, authorized pursuant
the Floyd County, the City of Rome, and the City of Cave Spring
resolve and declare as follows:
Section 1: Floyd County, the City of Rome, and the City of Cave Spring adopt and make the
findings discussed in the “Whereas” paragraphs as the factual findings of both Commissions and
Council.
Section 2: Floyd County, the City of Rome, and the City of Cave Spring hereby declare a state of
emergency and a public health emergency in Floyd County, the City of Rome, and the City of
Cave Spring.
Section 3:
a. Floyd County, the City of Rome, and the City of Cave Spring hereby declare that all
bars, restaurants, or businesses that sell food or beverages for consumption on
premises or that provide entertainment on premises shall be closed to in-person
dining, consumption of alcohol, or entertainment until the expiration of this
resolution.
b. Bars, restaurants, and other businesses that sell food may offer food for take-away or
for customers to eat somewhere other than at the establishment, provided that
cafeterias in hospitals, nursing homes, or similar facilities shall not be subject to
these restrictions and may continue normal operations.
c. Businesses affected by these closures shall establish systems that restrict in-person
contact as much as possible, to include not permitting more than ten (10) customers
at a time to be inside the premises. Such processes may include the business taking
the food to the customer’s vehicle rather than the customer coming inside the
business.
d. Furthermore, business shall ensure that all onsite consumption of food is prohibited,
and that employees and contractors of the business maintain at least six (6) feet of
personal distance between themselves as much as possible given the physical
constraints of the premises.
e. If a restaurant is licensed to sell beer and wine for on-premises consumption, such
business during the efficacy of this resolution only shall be authorized to sell
unopened bottles, cans, or other sealed containers of beer or wine for take-out
consumption off-premises.

COUNTY OF FLOYD
CITY OF ROME
CITY OF CAVE SPRING
STATE OF GEORGIA

JOINT RESOLUTION

Section 4: Floyd County, the City of Rome, and the City of Cave Spring hereby suspend the use
of any County and City Parks by more than ten (10) persons in a group; however, this does not
suspend the use of trails which are expressly exempted from this suspension.
Section 5: Floyd County, the City of Rome, and the City of Cave Spring suspend the bid and
competitive portions of the respective Procurement Policy and authorize the respective Managers
or Mayor to utilize the single-source policy and to require departments to provide a written
justification for the procurement during the effective dates of this Resolution.
Section 6: This Resolution shall take effect upon passage by the Floyd County, the City of
Rome, and the City of Cave Spring and shall expire by its own terms on March 31, unless
extended by further action of the respective Commissions or Council.
Section 7: The respective Clerks, in consultation with the respective County Attorney and City
Attorneys, shall have the power to correct scriveners errors.
IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, this 19th day of March, 2020.
FLOYD COUNTY, GEORGIA CITY OF ROME, GEORGIA

Local hospitals and healthcare providers rescheduling non-essential surgeries and procedures to mitigate risk of further COVID-19 community spread

Hospital and healthcare leaders across Northwest Georgia are working collaboratively to respond to the increasing presence of COVID-19 in Northwest Georgia.

These healthcare leaders sent the following letter to Rome/Floyd County elected officials:

“Northwest Georgia medical and public health leaders continue to work closely and collaboratively to respond aggressively to the COVID-19 impact in our community. We believe there is a clear indication of community spread based on the number of cases of COVID-19 in Floyd County.”

“As your local Hospital and healthcare leadership, we strongly urge you to make the difficult yet necessary decision to order the temporary Closures of Resturants, Bars, and other places of business where individuals gather for social events (including movie theaters, museums, gyms, and other recreation facilities).”

“We are facing a diminishing supply of the critical protective equipment for our healthcare providers, our staff and our patients. Floyd Health system, Harbin Clinic and Redmond Regional Medical Center will continue to work tirelessly to provide the highest level of medical care and protect the residents of Floyd County, But we cannot do it alone.”

We all have a responsibility to limit exposure and protect those individuals who are most vulnerable including the elderly, those with pre-existing health conditions and patients with compromised immune systems. We call on our community to mobilize and work with us to slow the further transmission of COVID-19.”

Following the guidelines from both the U.S. Surgeon General and the American College of Surgeons, effective immediately, AdventHealth, Cartersville Medical Center, Floyd Health System, Harbin Clinic and Redmond Regional Medical Center are beginning the process of rescheduling non-essential surgeries and procedures.

Essential and emergency procedures and services will continue uninterrupted. The decision was based on the need to limit exposure and minimize further spread of COVID-19 among patients and visitors as well as healthcare professionals. It also allows each healthcare organization to conserve resources as the entire medical community faces a diminishing supply of critical protective equipment.

The elimination of non-essential and elective surgeries and procedures will also ensure the most time-sensitive and medically necessary care can be prioritized and delivered quickly.

Patients impacted by this decision can expect to be contacted directly from their healthcare provider with additional instructions. Questions regarding how this decision will impact upcoming appointments or procedures should be directed to each patient’s healthcare provider.

Northwest Georgia medical leaders will continue to work together aggressively and compassionately to provide the highest level of medical care. Each healthcare organization is taking the necessary steps to protect the community and keep the public informed as the situation evolves.