TRAVEL RESOURCES ON COVID-19
The Madison-Morgan County Convention & Visitors Bureau continues to actively monitor developments surrounding coronavirus, as the safety and health of our visitors is a top priority.
With the COVID-19 situation continually evolving, we encourage you to follow the most up-to-date information and guidance offered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Georgia Department of Public Health.
All Georgians and visitors are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings in public and practice social distancing whenever leaving their homes. Click here for the Georgia Department of Public Health Daily Status Report.
Current State of Georgia Travel Restrictions
The state’s statewide shelter in place order expired April 30, 2020 and as of June 11, 2020 the shelter in place order expired for Georgians over the age of 65, unless they are medically fragile or fall into a category as described on page 6 of Executive Order 06.29.20.02 – Empowering a Healthy Georgia.
However, Georgians are urged to stay home whenever possible. The Public Health State of Emergency remains in effect until February 7, 2021. Businesses must continue to operate with the state’s social distancing, sanitation guidelines, and operational requirements to keep customers and employees safe.
Current City of Madison COVID-19 Related Ordinances/Policies
Ordinance Requiring the Use of Masks or Face Coverings in Public During the COVID-19 Outbreak (8/19/2020)
This ordinance, enacted by Mayor & Council, requiring facial coverings or masks within the City when the prevalence of confirmed COVID-19 over the previous 14 days is equal to or greater than 100 cases per 100,000 people. Exceptions are noted.
Attractions & Events in Madison & Morgan County
Madison’s attractions have reopened with new health and safety procedures to protect against the transmission of COVID-19. To find out more about these new procedures, see attractions listings.
Public events may have been postponed or canceled to follow health & safety guidelines limiting group gatherings. Click here for the current events calendar, which is updated frequently.
Note that while we are trying our best to keep information up-to-date, it is still best to call the individual event organizer to find out of any required health and safety procedures or if any last minute changes may have occurred.
The Madison-Morgan County Welcome Center, operated by the Madison-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau, located at 115 E Jefferson St, Madison, GA 30650 is open for assistance Monday – Friday from 9-5, Saturday from 10-4 and Sundays from 11:30 – 3:30. The Welcome Center is committed to helping visitors have a comfortable visit to Madison.
Learn more about the Welcome Center’s health and safety initiatives here. At the Welcome Center you may find visitor information, free masks, free parking and public restrooms.
You may also contact the Welcome Center for visitor information by emailing [email protected] or calling 706.342.4454.
Lodging in Madison & Morgan County
In response to COVID-19, the American Hotel & Lodging Association has introduced the Stay Safe initiative with enhanced industry-wide cleaning standards.
Many hotel brands are taking additional measures to protect against transmission of COVID-19. Visitors may find more details of each location’s health and safety procedures in the individual lodging listings.
Health and Safety Information
Travelers are encouraged to follow guidance issued by the CDC, Georgia Department of Health, and local authorities. According to the CDC, COVID-19 cases and deaths have been reported in all 50 states, and the situation is constantly changing.
Because travel increases your chances of getting infected and spreading COVID-19, staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from getting sick.
Things to consider before travel:
- Is COVID-19 spreading where you’re going?
If COVID-19 is spreading at your destination, but not where you live, you may be at higher risk of exposure if you travel there. - Will you or your travel companion(s) be in close contact with others during your trip?
Your risk of exposure to respiratory viruses like COVID-19 may increase in crowded settings, particularly closed-in settings with little air circulation, if there are people in the crowd who are sick.
This may include settings such as conferences, public events (like concerts and sporting events), religious gatherings, public spaces (like movie theatres and shopping malls), and public transportation (like buses, metro, trains). - Are you or your travel companion(s) at higher risk of severe illness if you do get COVID-19?
People at higher risk for severe disease are older adults and people of any age with serious chronic medical conditions (such as heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes). CDC recommends that travelers at higher risk for COVID-19 complications avoid all cruise travel and nonessential air travel. - Do you have a plan for taking time off from work or school, in case you get exposed to, or are sick with, COVID-19?
If you have close contact with someone with COVID-19 during travel, you may be asked to stay home to self-monitor and avoid contact with others for up to 14 days after travel. If you become sick with COVID-19, you may be unable to go to work or school until you’re considered noninfectious. You will be asked to avoid contact with others (including being in public places) during this period of infectiousness. - Do you live with someone who is older or has a severe chronic health condition?
If you get sick with COVID-19 upon your return from travel, your household contacts may be at risk of infection. Household contacts who are older adults or have severe chronic medical conditions are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. - Is COVID-19 spreading where you live?
Consider the risk of passing COVID-19 to others during travel, particularly if you will be in close contact with people who are older adults or have severe chronic health condition These people are at higher risk of getting very sick. If your symptoms are mild or you don’t have a fever, you may not realize you are infectious.
If You Travel
Protect yourself and others during your trip:
- Clean your hands often.
- Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place, after touching surfaces frequently touched by others, after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, and before touching your face or eating.
- If soap and water are not available, bring and use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub your hands together until they feel dry.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
- Avoid close contact with others.
- Keep 6 feet of physical distance from others.
- Wear a cloth face covering in public.
- Cover coughs and sneezes.
- Pick up food at drive-throughs, curbside restaurant service, or stores.
For the most up-to-date COVID-19 travel information, visit CDC COVID-19 Travel page.
Additional resources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- City of Madison
- Morgan County
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
- U.S. Travel Association
- COVID-19 hotline: The State of Georgia has a new COVID-19 hotline. If you believe that you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to the novel coronavirus, please contact your primary care doctor or an urgent care clinic. Please do not show up unannounced at an emergency room or health care facility. Hotline: (844) 442-2681
