CORONAVIRUS IN GEORGIA: What’s happening today, March 18, 2020

ATLANTA — Here’s is recap of everything that happened in Georgia related to the coronavirus on March 18, 2020. (Click here for the previous day)

[RELATED: Special section on the latest on coronavirus in Georgia]

• State Sen. Brandon Beach confirms he has tested positive for coronavirus.

• The city of Dunwoody has restricted bars and restaurants to take-out only.
• The University of Georgia says a staff member in the athletic department has tested positive for coronavirus. They were last on campus on March 6 and are being treated in a local hospital.
• Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan to self-quarantine after member of state Senate tests positive for coronavirus.
• 3 more people have died of coronavirus at a hospital in southwest Georgia, officials confirm. That brings the number of people dead in Georgia to 4.
• The number of coronavirus cases confirmed in Georgia is up to 197. The Georgia Department of Public Health released the new numbers at noon Wednesday. Those numbers did not include the new deaths.
• Fulton County and the city of South Fulton have declared states of emergency. South Fulton also enacting a citywide curfew starting daily at 9 p.m.
• President Trump announced he will invoke the Defense Production Act, which keeps people from being evicted or foreclosed on until the end of April, among other things.
• Local small business owners can now apply for a disaster loan. CLICK HERE to learn more.
• A Georgia state senator has tested positive for coronavirus, officials said Wednesday. The senator was not identified. Lawmakers and staff have been asked to self-quarantine until March 30.
• A University of West Georgia faculty member with the College of Education has tested positive for the virus, school officials said.
• Atlanta-based Delta Airlines cuts capacity by 70%.
• Hawks owner Tony Ressler said he will make sure employees at State Farm Arena don’t miss a paycheck.
• Simon is closing all malls in Georgia at of 7 p.m. Wednesday. Those include Lenox Square, the Mall of Georgia, Phipps Plaza, North Georgia Premium Outlets and the Calhoun Outlet Marketplace.
• A Georgia Department of Corrections employee has tested positive for the virus, officials said Wednesday. The person last reported to work last week but where the employee worked has not been released.
• Shaky Knees Festival has been postponed until the fall. Shaky Boots concert music festival is canceled, according to AJC.com.
• The University of Georgia has canceled commencement ceremony set to take place May 8. Georgia Southern University also canceled its ceremony.
• Gov. Brian Kemp announced that several YMCA facilities will serve as childcare center for medical workers starting Friday.
• Kroger announced it is shifting its hours to 8 a.m. - 9 p.m starting Wednesday. The grocery store chain is also hiring across all stores.
• Target will also cut its hours and set aside special shopping times for seniors and other at-risk customers.
• The Atlanta Braves created a $1 million relief fund to help ballpark workers as the season is delayed.
• President Trump says the U.S. and Canada have agreed to temporarily close the border to "non-essential travel'. Trump says trade won’t be affected.
• Georgia Department of Driver Services is suspending all road testing, non-commercial and commercial, until further notice. Some DDS Customer Service Centers are also closed.
• The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park has closed all buildings within the park. That includes Visitor Center, Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, Fire Station #6, the Dr. King’s Birth Home, and the Eastern National Bookstore. The outdoor spaces in the park will remain open for free for visitors to walk around.

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