Newspaper Page Text
Vol. 140, No. 7 - Waynesboro, Ga. 30830
Established in 1882
Wednesday, April 1,2020 - $1.00
s the United States faces the worst public health
crisis in a generation, we want you to know we
are here for you — and with you.
Whatever happens, whenever it happens, your
newspaper will be there for you. We’ll be there to let you know
how our community is managing through this crisis — from
business to government to the health care system and schools
to the drastic impact on individuals and families.
And we’ll be there to let you know about the good and
extraordinary things happening in the midst of this crisis — the
women who’ve been sewing masks for health care workers,
the businesses offering curbside services and reduced hours
and their customers who are remaining loyal, those bringing
food to the elderly and shopping for their essential needs, the
teachers who are missing their students and drive through their
neighborhoods just to honk their horns and wave, health workers
and first responders putting themselves in harm’s way to care
for the sick and do their regular day-to-day jobs.
Amidst the sadness and anxiety, there are uplifting moments
that remind us of the resilience of the human spirit, and we’ll
be there to document those, too.
We are here to help you make sense of the situation and to
help you navigate it, just as we have been here for you these
past 138 years.
Having fact-based, reliable reporting that provides public
scrutiny and oversight is more important than ever. Together,
across the decades, this newspaper and its readers have
navigated horrific events — natural disasters, terrorism, financial
downturns, periods of extreme political and societal division.
This challenge is greater than any of those, but, rest assured,
we’ll be here for you. Burke County is a resilient community
where people come together to build and rebuild. Let’s stick
together, and we will come through this, too.
Rules tighten as virus spreads
DIANA ROYAL • jdianaroyal@gmail.com
Thanks to contact investigation efforts at the B. Lamar Murray
Public Health Center, the majority of Burke County’s positive
COVID-19 cases have been traced to a local church.
According to a statement released by the East Central Health
District on Tuesday afternoon, several positive cases have
been identified at Palmer Grove Baptist Church (3261 Old
Waynesboro Road, Hephzibah). Anyone who attended church
from March 8-29 is asked to heed the recommendations from
the Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease
Control.
“You should monitor your health for fever, cough, shortness
of breath and/or vomiting or diarrhea for 14 days from the last
time you attended a church service at this location. You should
not go to work or school and should avoid public places during
this 14-day period of time. This includes family gatherings.
Social distancing is imperative,” the statement advised, adding
that anyone exhibiting the symptoms should contact their
primary care provider, urgent care center or Federally Qualified
Health Center and state they have been exposed to someone
with COVID-19. “Your symptoms may need monitoring more
closely or you may need testing for COVID-19.”
As of Tuesday afternoon, Burke County had recorded a total
of 10 positive cases.
CITY OF WAYNESBORO
On Monday, the City of Waynesboro held a meeting to discuss
and adopt an emergency ordinance to help prevent the spread
of the virus locally. Under the ordinance, churches may no
longer hold face-to-face services, funerals must be conducted
as private graveside services with 10 or fewer people (not
including funeral home personnel) and restaurants must close
dining areas and provide only takeout, drive-thru or curbside
services. The ordinance also bans any sort of public or private
community gathering of more than 10 people within the city
limits, with community gathering being defined as “any indoor
or outdoor event or convening ... that brings together or is likely
to bring together more than ten persons at the same time in a
single room or other single confined or enclosed space.” This
includes auditoriums, stadiums, tent arenas or event centers,
music venues, meeting halls, conference centers, large cafeterias
or any other confined indoor or outdoor area or space. Any
bars, indoor recreation facilities, gyms, pool halls, places that
provide body care services (barbering, hair design, cosmetology,
esthetics, massage therapy, tattooing or nail care) are to be
closed. Exceptions include airports, bus stations or terminals,
office or manufacturing space, child-care facilities, residential
buildings or temporary shelters, grocery stores, convenience
stores, gas stations, pharmacies, hospitals and medical facilities.
Retail businesses with less than 30,000 square feet of retail space
may remain open with no more than 10 customers at one time
and establishments of more than 30,000 square feet should have
no more than 50.
Any exemptions are expected to practice the recommendation
of staying 6 feet apart for extended periods of time.
In addition, anyone under the age of 18 should not be out
between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. seven days a week,
unless accompanied by or on an emergency errand directed by
an adult with lawful custody of the minor, traveling to and from
a place of lawful employment, attending specific events set forth
in the ordinance or is emancipated.
The ordinance went into effect on March 31 at
midnight and will continue until April 14 at 11:59 SEE
p.m. Not adhering to the instructions set forth in the VIRUS
ordinance is considered unlawful. 0
Holy Week services
to be live streamed
DIANA ROYAL • jdianaroyal@gmail.com
Holy Week services will be in a different format this year
as the community is encouraged to come together virtually
to worship in light of the coronavirus outbreak.
Dr. A1 Wright, pastor of First Baptist Church of Waynesboro,
said that while they are sad they cannot meet in person, this
practice is necessary during this time of uncertainty. “We
regret that, but we surely want to honor what our President
has asked us to do about face-to-face meetings.”
Services begin Monday, April 6, and will continue through
Friday, April 10, and will be live streamed each day on FBC’s
Facebook page from 12-12:30 p.m.
Wright says this year’s theme is “Because.”
“We are raising and giving biblical responses each day
to a very simple question: Why was Jesus put to death on
the cross and then raised from the dead on the third day?"
he explained, adding that a different preacher will offer a
response to that question each day. Pastors for the week
include Monday: Fogan Almy; Tuesday: Darius Roberson;
Wednesday: Wes Fawson; Thursday: Isaac Salgado; and
Friday: MattWigley.
The services may be accessed at https ://m.facebook.com/
FirstBaptistChurchWaynesboro/.
As of March 30th, £020 * this information comes from the
Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Engineering.
✓ Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or with
an alcohol baaed sanitizer.
i/ Cough into a lissue or flexed elbow ■ throw tissue in trash,
i/ Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth,
✓ Avoid close contact with people.
✓ Clean and disinfect surfaces & objects that people frequently touch.
✓ STAY HOME IF YOU ARE ILL.
330 US HWY. 25 NORTH, WAYNESBORO - 706-554-2114 - www.mizellford.com