Special to the Opelika Observer
The Auburn City Council adopted two resolutions at its March 17 meeting declaring a state of local emergency and encouraging residents and businesses to follow guidelines from public health officials.
State of Local Emergency
The state of local emergency grants the city manager certain authorities to help expedite decisions to aid in the response to an emergency, such as the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Read the full resolution on auburnalabama.org for details on the authority the city manager has to allow them to act for the safety of the Auburn community.
Recommended Guidelines
The second resolution encouraged all Auburn residents and businesses to adhere to all guidelines and recommendations issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Alabama Department of Public Health to help minimize the exposure to and transmission of COVID-19. The council also advised the community to adhere to the following additional guidelines:
- All non-essential and non-emergency travel is strongly discouraged between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.
- Non-work-related public and private gatherings of persons of 25 or more are strongly discouraged
- Those businesses routinely providing services to gatherings of persons of 25 or more are strongly encouraged to limit numbers of patrons such that the six-foot social distancing standard can be maintained and
- That citizens avail themselves of City of Auburn online services whenever possible.