West Point Enacts Curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
On Wednesday, the Mayor and City Council of West Point followed their counterparts in La- Grange by updating their emergency ordinance to close certain non-essential businesses and prohibit gatherings of 10 or more for the duration of the emergency. Unlike La-Grange and the County, West Point took the measures a step further and instated a curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
The provisions of the ordinance will be in effect from March 26 at 5 p.m. until May 20, 2020 or until the Mayor and Council resend the notice. Between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., movement within the city is restricted except for individuals exempted by the emergency ordinance including:
• Fire services/personnel
• Law enforcement
• Medical and hospital services
• Military service
• Utility repairs
• Persons seeking medical services
• Individuals traveling to and from their jobs with appropriate identification
• Individuals engaged in the delivery of food, medicine, medical supplies, fuel including, but not limited to, the re-stocking of grocery stores, pharmacies and convenience stores
• Individuals engaged in the retrieval or transport of bodies under the direction of funeral service personnel
• News media employees
• Designated employees or agents of businesses designated by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency as ‘essential’ pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 38-3-58
• Persons providing necessary care of companion animals in the custody and care of an animal shelter, boarding facility, or kennel
• Critical infrastructure businesses and employees as designated by the Governor or identified by U.S. Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency In addition to the curfew, the Mayor and City Council voted unanimously to temporary close of gyms, fitness centers, indoor amusement facilities, bowling alleys, pool halls, theaters, massage parlors, nail salons, barbershops, hair salons, and similar facilities for duration of the emergency.
Other retail businesses allowed to remain open must post signs at entrance doors informing customers to maintain six feet of distance between each other as possible given the constraints of the business. Also similar to La-Grange’s ordinance, restaurants and other eating establishments are only being allowed to offer carry-out, delivery, and drive-thru service.
All public and private gathering of more than 10 people occurring outside of homes are also prohibited, except for people gathering for the purposes of carrying on business certified as “essential” by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 38-3-58 or designated by the Governor as “critical infrastructure” or the provision of medical or health services.
The author of this article can be reached via email at info@troupcountynews. net.
Tommy Murphy Staff Writer
