ATLANTA – Today, restaurant tables in Georgia could be a little closer, more people could gather and vulnerable residents were no longer supposed to stay home as Kemp government loosened the COVID-19 restrictions.
Kemp said it was part of an effort to show that “Georgia is open to business.” He made the announcement last week withdraw most of the restrictions imposed a year ago.
[SPECIAL SECTION: COVID-19 Vaccine in Georgia]
Luke Braden was preparing to open McCray’s Tavern’s East Cobb location just as the closures began last year.
Soon the restaurant was in a decline mode, limiting the menus due to delays in the supply chain, and limited seating throughout the summer.
Now he is ready for full capacity as the COVID restrictions end in Georgia.
“It opens everything up for us,” said Braden, the restaurant’s general manager. “Get us back in the community. Hopefully everyone gets back. ”
TRENDING STORIES:
The capacity guidelines that once restricted seating within seats are no longer in force, giving Georgia restaurants and other businesses the opportunity to host larger parties. With the turn back, tables can be as close as 42 inches apart, compared to the previous six foot barrier.
Local orders, which still restrict visits to elderly care facilities, also fell.
The ban on gatherings of 50 people or more is also over, as Kemp said the relaxed steps are the key to returning to a normal life. ‘
The refunds come with mixed reactions from different businesses and consumers indicating that they will continue at different rates as experts continue to monitor Georgia’s vaccination rate and evidence of different cases. At this point, nearly three million Georgians had at least one dose of vaccine.
“We are not yet in a position to declare victory,” said data analyst Dr. Amber Schmidtke, said. “We have only vaccinated a small fraction of the Georgia population in full.”
“We can not afford to leave masks and social distance until we reach the herd immunity threshold,” she added.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
About a mile from McCray’s Tavern is the East Cobb location of Sterling Estates, a nursing home with 400 residents.
“This is the turn of the page to a new and more vibrant time for our residents, staff and their loved ones,” said Nathan Madigan, Vice President of Operations for Sterling Estates.
The factory is in a unique position as it is the only one of its kind in the state that also serves as a direct vaccine supplier, Madigan said. Madigan says that as a result, many of the residents started seeing the light at the end of the tunnel before the new year, and to date, more than half of the staff and 96% of the residents have been vaccinated through the program.
“We really feel like we’re in a safer place,” Madigan said. She added that the facility was successfully done inside and outside visits.
[Q&A: How can I book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment in Georgia? Which shots are available?]
Braden, surrounded by masked servers and social remote catering for indoor lunches, says he still wants customers to know they are busy with safety.
“We are still at the forefront of staying as sanitary as possible,” he said.
On Thursday afternoon, Becky Kellogg was happy to enter the restaurant with her mask to pick up the pickup. She said this is how she will continue to support the business as she is still not comfortable with the idea of increased capacity within.
“It seems a little early because things are rising a little bit more and not everyone has had a first shot at first,” Kellogg said.
In the same parking lot, a woman from Fulton County wrapped up her groceries.
“I had my first and second vaccinations, but I still think we can jump in a little bit,” Jacquelyn Mann said.
Mann noted that she is concerned about variants in the state, and that she is learning more about how effective her vaccinations against it will be.
Her motto at this point is simple.
“Be positive, but still take precautions.”