March 30, 2020

TO: All Marinas & Fishing Tournaments in Putnam County

RE:  Coronavirus/COVID-19  Governor's Order and County  Resolution

It has been brought to my attention that there are fishing tournaments scheduled at various locations on Lakes Sinclair and Oconee in Putnam County and many of these events will involve large groups of attendees.

On March 23, 2020 Governor Brian Kemp issued an executive order that amongst other things prohibited any business, establishment, corporation, or organization from allowing more than 10 people to gather at a single location if such gathering required persons to be seated or standing within 6 feet of another person during his declared "State of Emergency' related to the Coronavirus/COVID-19. 

On March 24, 2020 the Board of Commissioners of Putnam County passed a resolution declaring a "Local State of Emergency" that prohibits ALL private or public gatherings of 10 or more people at any event, indoors or outdoors, unless the people at the event were at least 6 feet apart from each other. Any person violating said resolution will be subject to citation or arrest for Disorderly Conduct.

The aforementioned order and resolution are in effect until April 6, 2020 and I expect they may very well be continued for some time thereafter.

If you have a scheduled or sponsoring fishing tournament or intend to have such an event in Putnam County, please reschedule your tournament to a later date, or arrange the event in a fashion where it will be conducted in a manner where there will be no violations of the county's resolution or the Governor's Order.

Howard R. Sills

Sheriff