Several closings of county facilities related to the COVID-19 pandemic were announced in the last week.

  Hours before a scheduled June 30 called meeting with the Henry County Board of Commissioners and representatives of the county’s four cities, county officials announced that the meeting was cancelled. A statement issued the next day revealed that one or more people working in county facilities tested positive for COVID-19 and in-person board meetings were suspended until further notice.

  “The county has taken the necessary measures to notify employees who were directly exposed to individuals who have tested positive to the coronavirus,” according to the statement. “They have been instructed to seek testing and to self-quarantine consistent with instruction from the Department of Public Health and CDC guidelines.”

  The areas of exposure in county buildings were to be sanitized, and County Manager, Cheri Hobson-Matthews said the county is making every effort to protect the health and safety of the citizens to help control the spread of the virus.

  “We are suspending in-person Board meetings until we can assure the safety of county staff and the public attending meetings,” she said. “Henry County will remain vigilant in monitoring the situation and will take rapid steps to protect the health and safety of employees and citizens.”

  The county will continue to follow the recommendations of the Department of Public Health and encourage all residents and employees to observe physical distancing and the wearing of masks or face coverings when around others.

  Also, Henry County’s courts are mostly closed right now after a previous emergency order was reissued. A June 29 order shared on the Henry County Sheriff’s Facebook page indicated that no civil or non-essential matters would be heard in Superior Court, State Court, Probate Court or Magistrate Court that day unless by teleconference or video conference.

  A renewed order of judicial emergency was issued July 1, citing “the continued transmission of Coronavirus/COVID-19 throughout areas near and surrounding the Flint Judicial Circuit as well as within the Circuit itself, the counties of residence of many of our court employees, and the potential infection of those who are required to appear in our courts and interact with large groups.”

  The order stated that no matters would be heard by any court except Probate Court through July 10 unless it could be conducted via teleconference or video conference. All courthouses except for State Court would be open to the public during regular business hours to accept filings.

  The Henry County District Attorney’s Office shared a copy of this order on its Facebook page, noting that Judge Brian Amero’s court proceedings would be conducted online and Judge Holly Veal’s courtroom was closed until July 13.

  An announcement was made July 2 that the Locust Grove and Stockbridge libraries would be closed until further notice due to possible staff exposure to COIVD-19. Later in the week it was announced that the Fairview, Hampton and McDonough libraries would also close for the time being. Patrons are encouraged to phone 678-432-5353 if they need assistance.

  Anyone with a valid library card can take full advantage of the system’s online resources at henrylibraries.org. 

  The county’s brick-and-mortar libraries have been closed to the public since the COVID-19 shutdown began four months ago, but the system had been providing curbside pickup of books on hold as well as an online summer reading program and storyline videos posted YouTube and Facebook. The summer meals program has also been continued with adjustments, with young people 18 and under allowed to retrieve a week’s worth of breakfasts and lunches in a single curbside pickup.