The city of Jasper is suspending dining-in, requiring all restaurants to transition to carry out/drive through only beginning Friday, March 27. The ban on dining-in will last until Monday, April 27.

According to a post on their website, “Beginning Friday, March 27, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. restaurants and establishments serving food and/or drinks within the City of Jasper will be restricted to carry-out/drive through service only. Restaurants with current alcohol licenses will be permitted to include an upopened alcoholic beverage with to go orders. Effective until April 27, 2020.”

Jasper voted on the restrictions at a special called meeting last week. They have also restricted public access to their facilities until further notice. Employees can come to work if they are not sick or showing signs of sickness. The City Municipal Court is postponed until further notice, possibly April 3.

As of 7 p.m. Monday, Pickens had three confirmed cases of COVID-19, up from two at noon, according to the Georgia Department of Health. Georgia has 800 total with 26 confirmed deaths.

Steve Lawrence, Mayor, posted on the website “During this time of uncertainty, please be aware that the leaders of this community are discussing matters of public health and safety daily and in some instances multiple times throughout the day and night. Your safety and wellbeing are of utmost concern. As such, I would like to remind all of us to adhere to the standards placed by our National and State leaders in regards to “social distancing” and taking necessary precautions of mitigating and eliminating exposure to COVID-19.”

Pickens County Schools are going to “hard lock-outs” starting Wednesday. Details here.