Restaurants across Georgia are refusing to open their dining rooms to patrons until they believe it’s safe, despite Georgia Governor Brian Kemp’s decision to allow restaurants and other businesses to start reopening this week amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Chefs and restaurant owners have come together to push back against the state law allowing restaurant dining rooms to reopen with some restrictions, forming the “#GAHospitalityTogether” initiative.

“We agree that it’s in the best interest of our employees, our guests, our community and our industry to keep our dining rooms closed at this time,” a statement from the group published in an ad in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reads. “Recognizing that each operator faces incredibly difficult decisions on the path ahead, we affirm the fact that public safety is the top priority as we navigate this challenge. These uncommon times call for uncommon leadership. We stand united in our resolve to emerge stronger, safer and more steadfast than before.”

Here in Chattooga County, almost all restaurants still have not reopened their dining rooms.  Some say that they will be making plans to reopen for in-dining customers in the near future.