The Macon-Bibb County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) and Recreation Department are now making Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) available for free at all ten recreation centers Monday through Friday. This includes ten face masks, five pairs of gloves, and four bottle of hand sanitizer per person. People can now visit any of the recreation centers listed below Monday – Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (or until supplies run out).

“We wanted to provide an additional day to help our families out, knowing that school has started virtually in our community and they may be more restricted in time to visit us,” says Recreation Director Robert Walker. “We want to continue protecting Middle Georgia by providing these supplies and help continue the downward trend of daily positive cases so that our children can return to school and recreation centers can open.”

“Our seven-day average of cases has been dropping the past week or two, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to stop taking all preventative measures,” says EMA Director Spencer Hawkins. “If we’re going to protect Middle Georgia, and reopen our facilities to the public safely, we need to continue doing everything we can to help each other out.”

Hand sanitizer was first handed out from the recreation centers on Wednesday and Thursday, September 2 and 3, and 4,605 were provided free to people there picking up masks and gloves those two days. Since the distribution of masks and gloves began on August 10 and hand sanitizer on September 2, 87,153 face masks, 65,302 gloves, and 13,794 bottles of hand sanitizer have been provided free to the community.

In addition to the masks and gloves at the recreation centers, the EMA has also put more than 25,000 in more than 500 departmental vehicles, including those with the Sheriff’s Office, Parks & Beautification Department, Public Works Department, Facilities Management Department, and the Emergency Management Agency.

“We want to make sure everyone has a mask, especially now that wearing them is required. Our goal is to make sure people remain healthy, and we would rather give them what they need than write a ticket,” says Bibb County Sheriff David Davis.

Recreation Centers

• Delores A. Brooks Recreation Center (3326 Ocmulgee East Boulevard)
• Elaine H. Lucas Senior Center (132 Willie Smokie Glover Drive)
• Frank Johnson Recreation Center (2227 Mercer University Drive)
• Freedom Park (3301 Roff Avenue)
• Gilead/Bloomfield Recreation Center (1931 Rocky Creek Road)
• L.H. Williams Recreation Center (325 Pursley Street)
• Memorial Gym (763 Long Street)
• Rosa Jackson Recreation Center (1211 Maynard Street)
• South Bibb Recreation Center (7035 Houston Road)
• Theron Ussery Recreation Center (815 North Macon Park Drive)

Mask Mandate & Preventative Measures

At a Special Called Meeting on Tuesday, August 25, 2020, the Macon-Bibb County Commission approved two mandates requiring people to wear face masks or coverings when in public and in government facilities and vehicles, both when social distancing cannot be maintained. Both were passed in an ongoing effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect Middle Georgia.

One requires people to wear a face mask or covering when in public places and a good social distance of six feet from other people who do not share the same household, cannot be maintained. The other states no employee nor member of the public shall be admitted to any county property or to use a county vehicle unless he or she is wearing a face covering or mask.

In addition to requiring face masks or coverings in public and in government facilities to help protect Middle Georgia and slow the spread of COVID-19, officials are asking people to follow ALL guidelines from the CDC guidelines, including:

• • Monitor your health daily and get tested if you show symptoms or believe you’ve come in contact with someone who has tested positive;
• • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds;
• • Avoid close contact with people, meaning at least six feet away;
• • Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze; and
• • Clean and disinfect surfaces.

Both Ordinances outline exceptions, and businesses and organizations can also opt out of this mandate by posting the appropriate signage, an example of which is included with the Ordinance. To read in what situations masks are not required, read the penalties for people not complying with the Ordinances, and print off the opt-out signage, click here. Even in places opting out of the mandate, the public is still strongly encouraged to wear face masks as a precautionary measure.