GGIA Members,

 

We find ourselves smack dab in the middle of the unknown. As we navigate the uncertainties brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, it seems something new is thrown at us daily. And yet, here we are. Essential. Continuing to serve our communities and each other in order to provide needed resources and services. THANK YOU all for your commitment to this industry and most importantly, the well-being of every individual you interact with.

Over the last several weeks, GGIA has been busy communicating with state, county, and local officials to ensure that all Green industry businesses would be recognized as "essential" should stricter ordinances be passed. On Wednesday, April 1, Governor Kemp announced that he would sign an Executive Order for a state-wide "shelter in place" to take effect on Friday, April 3, 2020, and end on Monday, April 13, 2020. This order adopted the Department of Homeland Security's CISA Guidelines that define the essential critical infrastructure workforce, including Green industry businesses.

Now that the essential nature of our industry has been affirmed, it is up to each of us to take the necessary steps to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus while continuing to operate. Within the Governor's order there is a list of measures (found below) that each organization shall implement, including social distancing and sanitation, along with a reference to the CDCs guidelines. If we are to remain safely open as an essential industry, companies and individuals are obligated to follow these measures. Otherwise, we may very well lose the opportunity to serve our customers and communities during this time.

In another period of great turmoil, Winston Churchill was once quoted as saying, "This is no time for ease and comfort. It is the time to dare and endure." May we all take the necessary steps to safely endure this crisis so that we may dare to do greater things in the future. Take care of one another and yourselves. Stay safe and well, friends!

 

All the best,

Jeremy Oxford

GGIA Chairman

 

 

GGIA is here to serve our members and we have compiled a resource list with links to informational sites. If you have any questions, please contact us at (706) 632-0100 or email jennifer@ggia.org.

(Excerpt from pages 5 and 6) of the Executive Order to Ensure a Safe & Healthy Georgia

It is further Ordered

The term "Critical Infrastructure" shall refer to businesses, establishments, corporations, non-profit corporations, and organizations as defined by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as 'essential critical infrastructure workforce,' in guidance dated March 19, 2020, and revised on March 28, 2020, and those suppliers which provide essential goods and services to the critical infrastructure as well as entities that provide legal services, home hospice, and non-profit corporations or non-profit organizations that offer food distribution or other health or mental health services. The operation of Critical Infrastructure shall not be impeded by county, municipal, or local ordinance.

Critical Infrastructure that continues in-person operation during the effective dates of this Order shall implement measures which mitigate the exposure and spread of COVID-19 among its workforce. Such measures may include, but shall not be limited to:

1. Screening and evaluating workers who exhibit signs of illness, such as a fever over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, cough, or shortness of breath;
2. Requiring workers who exhibit signs of illness to not report to work or to seek medical attention;
3. Enhancing sanitation of the workplace as appropriate;
4. Requiring hand washing or sanitation by workers at appropriate places within the business location;
5. Providing personal protective equipment as available and appropriate to the function and location of the worker within the business location;
6. Prohibiting gatherings of workers during working hours;
7. Permitting workers to take breaks and lunch outside, in their office or personal workspace, or in such other areas where proper social distancing is attainable;
8. Implementing teleworking for all possible workers;
9. Implementing staggered shifts for all possible workers;
10. Holding all meetings and conferences virtually, wherever possible;
11. Delivering intangible services remotely wherever possible;
12. Discouraging workers from using other workers' phones, desks, offices, or other work tools and equipment;
13. Providing disinfectant and sanitation products for workers to clean their workspace, equipment, and tools;
14. Prohibiting handshaking and other unnecessary person-to-person contact in the workplace; and
15. Placing notices that encourage hand hygiene at the entrance to the workplace and in other workplace areas where they are likely to be seen;
16. Suspending the use of Personal Identification Number ("PIN") pads, PIN entry devices, electronic signature capture, and any other credit card receipt signature requirements to the extent such suspension is permitted by agreements with credit card companies and credit agencies.

Other measures in the Governor's Order include: