RESOLUTION OF THE
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF SUMTER COUNTY, GEORGIA AND
THE SUMTER COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR
FOR THE PROVISION OF EMERGENCY RESPONSES TO
THE COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19
Coronavirus (now designated "COVID-19" or “virus”) as a pandemic and encouraged all countries
to take urgent and aggressive action to reduce or stop the rapid spread of such virus; and
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, the President of the United States of America declared a
National Health Emergency regarding COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on March 14, 2020, Governor Brian Kemp of the State of Georgia declared a
Public Health State of Emergency regarding COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, COVID-19 has caused or contributed to numerous deaths in Dougherty
County and other counties throughout the State of Georgia, and numerous persons have been
infected with the virus; and
WHEREAS, some of those who died from or who have been infected with COVID-19
appear to have been infected by attending public gatherings where other people either carried the
virus or were already infected by it; and
WHEREAS, numerous individuals have tested positive for COVID-19 in Dougherty
County and other nearby counties in the Sumter County area, and numerous individuals are
awaiting the results of tests for the virus; and
WHEREAS, medical professionals have determined COVID-19 is easily transmitted from
person to person; and
WHEREAS, Sumter County has numerous recreational facilities, churches, and other
common gathering places for Sumter County citizens and visitors to Sumter County; and
WHEREAS, health experts have encouraged elderly citizens to remain in their residences,
businesses to allow employees to work remotely, when possible, and citizens to maintain a distance
of six (6) feet from others, when possible, to avoid gatherings of more than ten (10) persons and
to practice social distancing; and
WHEREAS, medical professionals have encouraged Sumter County to take aggressive
steps to contain the spread of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, Sumter County has an Emergency Management Ordinance codified in Article
II of Chapter 30 of the Code of Ordinances of Sumter County; and
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 WHEREAS, the declaration of a state-wide emergency by the Governor has activated the
Local Emergency Operations Plan pursuant to Section 30-34(e) of the Sumter County Emergency
Management Ordinance; and
WHEREAS, the Sumter County Board of Commissioners adopted a Declaration of Local
Emergency due to COVID-19 on March 17, 2020; and
WHEREAS, the Sumter County Emergency Management Director has requested that the
Sumter County Board of Commissioners take action to comply with recommendations from
federal and state officials regarding limitations of meetings where groups of people may
congregate and spread the virus from person to person; and
WHEREAS, both the Board of Commissioners of Sumter County and the Sumter County
Emergency Management Director desire to take all actions necessary or appropriate to reduce the
possibility of exposure to COVID-19, to control the risk to public health and safety due to COVID19, to promote the health of the County’s citizens, and to take additional measures to prevent or
reduce the likelihood of the spread of the virus; and
WHEREAS, the Sumter County Board of Commissioners and the Sumter County
Emergency Management Director have determined that it is appropriate to issue this resolution
under the authority of Article II of Chapter 30 of the Sumter County Code of Ordinances relating
to Emergency Management; and
WHEREAS, Section 30-35(a) of the Sumter County Code of Ordinances authorizes the
Sumter County Board of Commissioners to implement local emergency measures reasonably
necessary to protect life and property; and
WHEREAS, Section 30-35(a)(1) of the Sumter County Code of Ordinances authorizes the
Sumter County Board of Commissioners to perform and exercise such other functions and duties
and to take such emergency actions as may be necessary to promote and secure the safety,
protection, and well-being of the inhabitants of the County; and
WHEREAS, Section 30-40 of the Sumter County Code of Ordinances authorizes the
Sumter County Board of Commissioners and Emergency Management Director to enact curfews
and to limit access to any area within the County.
NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby ordered under the Georgia Emergency Management Act
of 1981 and Article II of Chapter 30 of the Code of Ordinances of Sumter County relating to
Emergency Management and the authority granted to the Board of Commissioners of Sumter
County and the Sumter County Emergency Management Director as follows:
The provisions of this resolution shall be effective at 12:01 a.m. on March 22, 2020 and
shall remain in effect until terminated by resolution of the Sumter County Board of Commissioners
and the Emergency Management Director.
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 1. Limitations on Gatherings. During the public health emergency described above, the
following shall apply for the purpose of limiting gatherings and assemblies:
A. Public or private gatherings of more than ten (10) persons are prohibited anywhere in
Sumter County for the duration of this resolution. For the purposes of this resolution, a
"gathering" is any indoor or outdoor event or assembly, subject to the exceptions and
clarifications below, which brings together or is likely to bring together, ten (10) or
more persons at the same time in a single room or other single confined or enclosed
space, such as an auditorium, stadium (indoor or outdoor), tent, arena, event center,
music venue, meeting hall, conference center, large cafeteria, church, or any other
confined indoor or confined outdoor space, to include birthday parties, family reunions,
baby showers, weddings, and funerals. For purposes of this subsection, a "gathering"
shall not include the following:
(i)

Office space, public or private schools, child-care facilities,
residential buildings, and any type of temporary shelter or housing;

(ii)

Hospitals, pharmacies, physicians’ offices, medical clinics, and
other medical facilities;

(iii)

Manufacturing facilities;

(iv)

Grocery stores, shopping centers, and other retail establishments;
and

(v)

Government buildings and facilities.

B. No worship services shall be held in Sumter County if attended by more than ten (10)
persons during the term of this resolution. This directive includes, but is not limited to,
church services, funerals, church meals, weeknight services, Bible studies, Sunday
schools, choir practices, church meetings, deacons’ meetings, revivals, and any and all
other such meetings related to worship or church services. Nothing in this resolution
shall prohibit churches from live streaming services or holding services remotely as
long as such live streaming or remote services do not result in more than ten (10)
persons being present in violation of this resolution.
C. Indoor recreational facilities, including, but not limited to, gyms, physical fitness
centers, and dance studios, shall be closed for the term of this resolution except where
not more than ten (10) persons are present at any one time and each of such persons
present has a prior appointment for the use of such facilities at such time.
D. Pool halls, playgrounds, and theaters shall be closed for the term of this resolution.

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 E. The Sumter County Emergency Management Director may in his reasonable discretion
exempt entities or individuals from any of the provisions of this section.
2. Mandatory Curfew. A mandatory curfew shall be effective between the hours of 9:00 p.m.
and 6:00 a.m. during which all persons within the County shall remain at home. The curfew
shall not apply to anyone performing emergency or first responder services, essential
government services, law enforcement services, rescue services, safety services, health
services, essential utility services, or military services. The curfew shall also not apply to
anyone traveling to or from or engaging in lawful employment. The Emergency
Management Director may in his reasonable discretion grant further exemptions.
3. Voluntary Shelter at Home. The Sumter County Board of Commissioners and Emergency
Management Director request that all persons within the County voluntarily shelter at home
and not leave their homes or loiter, wander, stroll, or play in any public place within the
County, except as follows:
a. When a person is on an errand necessitated due to an emergency;
b. When a person is traveling or returning directly home from lawful employment or
otherwise engaged in lawful employment that makes it necessary to leave home;
c. When a person is engaged in interstate and intrastate vehicular travel through the
County;
d. When a person is procuring essential food or medicine or seeking essential medical
care or providing essential food, medicine, or medical care to another person;
e. Any other activity which may be exempted by the Sumter County Emergency
Management Director in his reasonable discretion.
4. Violations. Any violation of this resolution shall be a misdemeanor punishable pursuant
to Section 1-11 and Section 30-44 of the Code of Ordinances of Sumter County. The
Sheriff of Sumter County and his lawful deputies shall be authorized to enforce this
resolution pursuant to said ordinances.
5. Authorization. This resolution is authorized pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 38-3-28(a) and
pursuant to Article II of Chapter 30 of the Code of Ordinances of Sumter County. This
resolution was entered with due consideration of the orders, rules, regulations, actions,
recommendations, and requests of federal and state authorities relevant thereto and to the
extent permitted by law and shall be interpreted consistent with such orders, rules,
regulations, actions, recommendations and requests, all in accord with the provisions of
O.C.G.A. § 38-3-28(c).
6. Possible Future Mandatory Shelter at Home Resolution. The Sumter County Board of
Commissioners and the Emergency Management Director may issue a mandatory shelter
at home order, with appropriate exemptions, in the near future should it become necessary
to protect public health and safety and encourage all citizens and businesses to take
immediate action to prepare in advance for such a contingency.

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 7.

All resolutions or parts of resolutions in conflict with this resolution are, to the extent of
such conflict, hereby repealed and set aside.

8. This resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption.
SO DECLARED AND RESOLVED this 21st day of March, 2020 at 10:08 o’clock p.m.
SUMTER COUNTY BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS
[SEAL]

By:

Attest:

____________________________________
Clay Jones, Chairman

____________________________________
Rayetta Volley, County Clerk

SUMTER COUNTY EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT AGENCY

By:

____________________________________
Nigel Poole, Director

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