Bankruptcy Practitioners in the Middle District of Georgia,

Subject: Middle District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court Response to COVID-19 Pandemic (1st Announcement)

Date: March 12, 2020

  1. In response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, beginning Monday, March 16, 2020, signs will be posted at all public entrances to our Macon, Columbus, Albany, Athens, and Valdosta court facilities and will bar admission into our facilities for anyone who:
    • Has visited China, Iran, South Korea, or Italy within the last 14 days
    • Resides with or has had close contact with someone who has traveled to those countries
    • Has been advised by a healthcare provider to self-quarantine
    • Has been diagnosed with, or has had contact with, anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID- 19

If any of the above criteria apply to someone entering the court facilities, the person will be given a contact information sheet that says:

    • If you are unable to access the building due to COVID-19 (coronavirus) restrictions, please consider these two options if you need to file documentation with the court:
      • You can scan and email your filing to our emergency email address at EmergencyFilings@gamb.uscourts.gov. Please contact the court at 478-752-3506 to inform us of your intent to use the email option. Please be sure to include a scanned copy of a government issued photo ID to confirm your identity.
      • You can also fax your filing to the court at 478-752-8157. Please contact the court at 478-752-3506 to inform us of your intent to use the fax option. Please also include in your fax a copy of a government issued photo ID to confirm your identity.
    • If one of the two options above is not available to you, please contact the court at 478-752-3506 to make other arrangements to file your documents.
  1. If you have upcoming hearings and you fit within any of these restrictions noted above, you should make arrangements for other qualified counsel to cover for you or immediately reach out to opposing counsel and the court about arranging for a rescheduling of the hearing. Also, if you have upcoming hearings, please reach out immediately to your clients and advise them of these restrictions. If your client is within these restrictions, you should see if someone else is qualified to testify on their behalf or immediately contact opposing counsel and the court about continuing the hearing.
  1. The court will conduct an “all hands telework day” event on Wednesday, March 18, 2020 to exercise our capability of continuing the mission at the highest level of service to our customers given a possible pandemic environment. If during our exercise you encounter any difficulties or you have a suggestion that you feel will benefit the bankruptcy community as it relates to this exercise, please email the Clerk

at kyle_george@gamb.uscourts.gov. Your input will be greatly appreciated.

4. All attorneys and parties in interest showing signs of illness (i.e, had a cough or a fever within the last

24 hours), or who have been in close contact within the last fourteen (14) days with a person who had such signs of illness when the contact occurred or has shown them since the contact occurred, are strongly discouraged from attending proceedings at the court.

5. The court continues to closely follow recommendations from national and local public health agencies as well as other judicial entities and will make decisions based on developments as they occur or as they

are anticipated to occur. Be on the lookout for future announcements as this situation develops.