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Delta Air Lines has become one of the most strident airlines in enforcing its mandatory mask policy due to the coronavirus pandemic.
More than 120 people have been banned from flying on the airline for refusing to wear a mask or face covering, according to an internal Delta memo the company recently sent to its employees.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian is resolute in disallowing unmasked passengers to board one of their planes.
“The flight experience today is really positive,” he told The Today Show. ”
Here Is What Delta Is Doing To Keep Passengers Safe
According to Bastian, here are some of the guidelines that make Delta safer than other airlines to fly:
- Planes are sanitized through electrostatic methods
- Planes are only booked to 6% capacity
- Every middle seat is blocked on a Delta plane
When it comes to masks, Delta’s CEO says the airline has ramped up enforcement.
“We’ve been requiring masks since the 1st of May,” he said. “You cannot board a Delta plane unless you have a mask on.”
If you insist on not wearing a mask on a Delta flight “we will insist that you don’t wear Delta,” he said.
Even if you have a medical condition that prevents you from wearing a mask, Bastian says. “You might not want to fly Delta.”
He did say however that the airline is working with doctors on a validation process for customers who can’t wear masks for one medical reason or another.
If you’re wondering how that process works, footage on social media showed a woman passenger kicked off a flight. It is unclear if the video is of a Delta flight.
Another video I will watch a thousand times.
Goodbye, Super Spreader.
pic.twitter.com/BjKTR33Vau— Steve Marmel (@Marmel) July 23, 2020
What Is Delta’s Mask Policy?
Delta’s official mask policy states that “Delta customers and employees are required to wear a face mask, or appropriate cloth face covering over their nose and mouth throughout their travel, aligning with best practice guidelines from the CDC.”
Not only are masks or face coverings required onboard flights, but also at:
- Lobby Check-in
- Delta Sky Clubs
- Boarding Gate Areas
- Jet Bridges
Read more from Delta HERE.
The question on everybody’s mind though is this: Should you be flying right now? Read our air travel resource to find out.
Once you get your passport, you should be ready for your trip. Make sure you have found the cheapest flights from Atlanta that are on sale. -
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms have discussed settling the lawsuit he has filed against her.
Bottoms told The Tonight Show that she and Kemp have had some productive talks of late.
“We discussed where we disagree and hopefully we can figure out how to agree to disagree without having to play this out in court. At the end of the day, we want the same thing: We want people to be safe. We want to stop the spread of COVID-19,” she said on the show.
Things got heated between two of Georgia’s most high-profile political leaders when Bottoms tweeted Sunday that Kemp had as for an emergency injunction to “restrain” her from speaking to the media.
Bottoms’ national profile has risen dramatically over the last three months as she has appeared on big TV news shows repeatedly amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In addition to being sued over a mask mandate and voluntary advisory guidelines on COVID-19, Governor Kemp has asked for an emergency injunction to ‘restrain’ me from issuing press statements and speaking to the press. Far more have sacrificed too much more for me to be silent,” she tweeted.
The move comes one week after Kemp filed a lawsuit against Bottoms and the Atlanta City Council related to their mandate requiring residents and visitors to the city to wear masks.
In addition to being sued over a mask mandate and voluntary advisory guidelines on COVID-19, @GovKemp has asked for an emergency injunction to “restrain” me from issuing press statements and speaking to the press. Far more have sacrificed too much more for me to be silent. pic.twitter.com/gWlnZlCtoR
— Keisha Lance Bottoms (@KeishaBottoms) July 19, 2020
Meanwhile the city of Atlanta has rolled back to Phase 1 of the COVID-19 reopening plan, according to an order issued by Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.
The mayor is doing what she can to stem the rise of coronavirus in the city despite a hostile reception from the governor and others outside the state’s largest city.
Phase 1 is the initial plan issued by the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in conjunction with the White House Coronavirus Task Force.
For individuals, it means they must:
- Stay at home except for essential trips
- Wear masks or face coverings in public
- Wash your hands frequently
- Practice social distancing
For Businesses, here’s what Phase 1 means:
- To-go and delivery orders only for restaurants
- Teleworking for employees that are able
- Frequent cleaning of public places and spaces
For City Government, Phase 1 means:
- Closure of all non-essential city facilities
- Moratorium on special event applications
In response to Atlanta’s actions, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp tweeted that the new rules were just “guidance.”
“Atlanta Mayor Keisha Bottoms’ action today is merely guidance – both non-binding and legally unenforceable. As clearly stated in my executive orders, no local action can be more or less restrictive, and that rule applies statewide,” Kemp tweeted.
“If the Mayor actually wants to flatten the curve in Atlanta, she should start enforcing state restrictions, which she has failed to do.
We ask citizens and businesses alike to comply with the terms of Executive Order 06.29.20.02, which was crafted in conjunction with state public health officials. These common-sense measures will help protect the lives and livelihoods of all Georgians,” Kemp went on to say.
The development comes days after Bottoms tested positive for coronavirus, along with some members of her family.
At the time, she also instituted a public mask policy for Atlanta residents and visitors.
“We will continue to take active measures to help slow the spread of COVID-19 infections in Atlanta,” said Mayor Bottoms said in a press release. “Public health experts overwhelmingly agree that wearing a face covering helps slow the spread of this sometimes deadly virus.”
Meanwhile, Georgia officials are being accused of messing with the COVID-19 numbers to make it look like the cases aren’t rising exponentially.
In just 15 days the total number of #COVID19 cases in Georgia is up 49%, but you wouldn’t know it from looking at the state’s data visualization map of cases. The first map is July 2. The second is today. Do you see a 50% case increase? Can you spot how they’re hiding it? 1/ pic.twitter.com/wAgFRmtrPk
— Georgia Person (@andishehnouraee) July 17, 2020
Atlantafi.com is bringing you the latest on the coronavirus pandemic, which has the state of Georgia and the city of Atlanta under a state of emergency. More definitive advice on health, please visit CDC.gov. Here are some helpful links:
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If you’re working from home due to the coronavirus pandemic, things can get a bit boring around the house. While you don’t want to liven things up too much with extra noise, some relaxing sounds and images can do wonders while you work.
The key to a relaxing video is two-fold:
- You don’t want images, videos to be so mesmerizing that you can’t concentrate on your work.
- You don’t want the videos or music accompanying it to be so loud that you can’t focus.
Here are 10 relaxing videos to play in your home office.
1. Relaxing Tropical Island
2. Birds Singing By The Lake
3. Beautiful Scenes Of Nature
4. Relaxing Farm Village
5. Satisfying Rain And Thunder
6. Relaxing City Park
7. Relaxing Nature Preserve
8. Gentle Rain And Native American Flutes
9. Relaxing Sounds And Underwater Scenes
10. Dance Of Life: Relaxing Music
Bonus (For Star Wars Fans)
It’s no secret that women are ruling the world. In fact Beyonce tried to tell y’all that some years ago. Today they make up the #1 entrepreneurs in 50 of the biggest cities in America. From femtech to beauty products, women have their hands on the pulse.
If you want to keep abreast of the latest lifestyle news, subscribe to AtlantaFi.com’s newsletter.More Articles From AtlantaFi:
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If you are an entrepreneur who makes things, Walmart has some shelf space for you. The retailer has opened calls for U.S.-made products
Walmart Wants Your U.S.-Manufactured Products: How To Apply
Walmart is inviting businessmen and women to apply to have their U.S.-manufactured products added to Walmart shelves around the nation. The open call is taking applications now.
All you have to do is apply for the chance to meet with Walmart buyers on Oct. 1, 2020 by way of a virtual pitch meeting.
The deadline to apply to participate in this year’s Open Call for U.S.-manufactured products is Aug. 10, 2020. The application and additional information about the event are available via Walmart-jump.com.
“During this year of unprecedented challenges for U.S. businesses, Walmart remains committed to sourcing products made, grown, or assembled in the U.S. By Investing in products that support American jobs, we are able to bring new exciting products to our customers, support new jobs in our local communities and invest in small business across the country.” said Laura Phillips, Walmart senior vice president for Global Sourcing & U.S. Manufacturing. “Walmart’s annual Open Call event gives us a unique occasion to identify new suppliers who can meet our customers’ needs with unique and innovative products manufactured or produced in the U.S. For the first time, this year’s Open Call event will be virtual, enabling even broader participation from potential new suppliers. We know how important this opportunity is for many small businesses, especially this year, and we are looking forward to seeing the new product submissions and meeting potential new suppliers.”
Atlanta has a lot of inspirational people and AtlantaFi.com is going to introduce you to many of them as well as cool places to go, great restaurants and other ATL happenings.
Got an event or know of something opening in and around Atlanta? Holla: CJ@AtlantaFi.com. See what’s poppin’ in the ATL! Subscribe to our news alerts here, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
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One of the biggest news events in Atlanta’s history occurred in 1996. That’s the year Atlanta hosted the Olympic Games.
The city was awarded The Games six years earlier and had built and remodeled extensively. Then the bombing happened. This article is going to clear up one and for all who did the bombing.
Who Did The Atlanta Olympic Bombing In 1996?
Who Was Killed In The Atlanta Olympic Bombing?
The Olympic bombing in Atlanta happened on Saturday, July 27, 1996. While scores of people wee injured, two people are officially determined as having been killed in the Olympic bombing.
- Alice Hawthorne: The 44-year-old woman from Albany, Georgia suffered injuries from the blast in Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta.
- Melih Uzunyol, a cameraman from Turkey, died from a heart attack attributed to the event moments after the explosion.
Intense media coverage
Who Committed The Atlanta Olympic Bombing?
Intense pressure was on federal officials to name a suspect in the bombing. Meanwhile, the media had begun doing vignettes of local heroes who had acted swiftly during the bombing.
Three days after the event, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution named a security guard — Richard Jewell as — as a suspect in the bombing. Jewell had earlier been mentioned as a hero for his fast actions in discovering a mysterious backpack.
He had maintained his innocence after a media frenzy swarmed his home and everywhere he lived for three months.
In October 1996, the FBI said that Jewel was no longer a suspect. By that time, federal officials had turned their attention to white supremacist groups.
Jewell sued several media outlets, including the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and NBC, settling with both.
The following February, Eric Rudolph, 29, is named a suspect by federal authorities. Also a suspect in the bombing of an abortion clinic in Alabama, Rudolph began to draw heavy media attention.
The FBI said that it was Rudolph who made two anonymous 911 calls 30 minutes before the bombing in Centennial Olympic Park.
Where Is Eric Rudolph Now?
Rudolph has been in federal prison for more than 20 years. Today he remains locked up behind bars at the ADX Florence Supermax prison near Florence, Colorado.Richard Jewell died 11 years after the bombing on August 29, 2007. He had been having complications due to diabetes. He was 44 years old.Atlanta has a lot of inspirational people and AtlantaFi.com is going to introduce you to many of them as well as cool places to go, great restaurants and other ATL happenings.
Got an event or know of something opening in and around Atlanta? Holla: CJ@AtlantaFi.com. See what’s poppin’ in the ATL! Subscribe to our news alerts here, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
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If you’re interested in going to nursing school in Georgia, a recent report ranks all of the accredited programs in the state.
The rankings assign a grade to each respective nursing school so that you can see how it fares against other schools.
The stats come from AccreditedSchoolsOnline.org, which ranks college and university programs.
1. Emory University
- Score: 93.25
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 8 to 1
2. Brenau University
- Score: 91.25
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 11 to 1
3. Georgia State University
- Score: 90.75
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 21 to 1
4. Mercer University
- Score: 90.50
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 13 to 1
5. Albany State University
- Score: 90.00
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 16 to 1
6. Armstrong Atlantic State University
- Score: 89.75
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 17 to 1
7. Georgia Southwestern State University
- Score: 89.60
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 16 to 1
8. Emmanuel College
- Score: 89.50
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 12 to 1
9. Georgia Southern University
- Score: 89.00
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 21 to 1
10. Thomas University
- Score: 88.75
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 10 to 1
If you want to know how to get college textbooks for cheap or free, check this out.
Explore Atlanta At Your Own Pace
First, to find all the good things happening in the city this week, all you have to do is take a look at downtown Atlanta. That’s where some of the best restaurants are as well as where the visitors, namely tourists, are. Downtown Atlanta or Midtown often has something cool going on!
Are you a beer drinker? You also may want to visit to a craft brewery in the city.
Read more: Best work from home jobs in Atlanta, Georgia
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Just when she needed a high-profile political ally, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has gotten a big one: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
The two Democrats have struck a friendship that will pay dividends to Atlanta’s bid to help mitigate the coronavirus pandemic.
Cuomo tweeted Wednesday that he is sending to Atlanta 7,500 test kits, 30,000 pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) and 1,250 gallons of hand sanitizer.
The items are scheduled to arrive on Friday, the governor said.
“When New York was in need, volunteers from around the country came here to help. We vowed to pay that generosity forward,” he said.
Bottoms retweeted the message, adding, “My mother often says, ‘A friend, in need, is a friend indeed.’ We are grateful to have a friend in @NYGovCuomo and the people of NY.”
My mother often says, “A friend, in need, is a friend indeed.” We are grateful to have a friend in @NYGovCumo and the people of NY. #ATLStrong https://t.co/zs2TL5E6eL
— Keisha Lance Bottoms (@KeishaBottoms) July 15, 2020
The help comes as Bottoms navigates an icy relationship with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who slapped her hand days earlier when the mayor of the state’s largest city instituted a mask mandate.
“Atlanta Mayor Keisha Bottoms’ action today is merely guidance – both non-binding and legally unenforceable. As clearly stated in my executive orders, no local action can be more or less restrictive, and that rule applies statewide,” Kemp tweeted.
“If the Mayor actually wants to flatten the curve in Atlanta, she should start enforcing state restrictions, which she has failed to do.
Meanwhile Georgia’s COVID-19 numbers continue to climb, putting a strain on hospitals.
Atlantafi.com is bringing you the latest on the coronavirus pandemic, which has the state of Georgia and the city of Atlanta under a state of emergency. More definitive advice on health, please visit CDC.gov. Here are some helpful links:
- ATLANTA CORONAVIRUS RESOURCE GUIDE: Grants & More
- How To Get Tested For COVID-19 In Atlanta
- Social Distancing Guide: How To Do It
- COVID-9 Protection: How To Make a Face And Face Covering
- Georgia Lockdown & Re-Opening: Everything You Need To Know
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If you are an Uber driver, independent contractor, starving artist or another kind of freelancer, you probably could use $1,000 right now, especially with the coronavirus pandemic still wreaking havoc.
Are You A Gig Worker? Here’s How To Get a $1,000 Forgiveable Loan
The U.S. government is still offering freelance workers up to $1,000 as part of the Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) distributed by the Small Business Administration.
The EIDL is called a loan, but works more like a grant in that it is forgiveable and you don’t have to repay it.
What Are The Requirements?
As for as eligibility, here is what you need..
- You must be a small business owner or have a qualified agricultural business in the United States or its territories.
- are currently eligible to apply for a low-interest loan due to Coronavirus (COVID-19).
- You must also state your name, address and other basic business information
How To Apply
To apply for an EIDL loan, fill out this application for Disaster Loan Assistance.
Although you face a perjury charge if you’re not truthful on your application, you don’t even have to be directly affected by the pandemic to get the loan.
Are you a small business owner? Here are some grants you should apply for.
Atlantafi.com is bringing you the latest on the coronavirus pandemic, which has the state of Georgia and the city of Atlanta under a state of emergency. More definitive advice on health, please visit CDC.gov. Here are some helpful links:
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Google is doing what it can to create jobs to underrepresented communities in Georgia and other places. The tech company announced three new Google Career Certificates in high-demand, high-paying fields, including:
- Data Analytics
- Project Management
- User Experience (UX) Design
Google Announces Programs To Help Underserved Communities
The initiative is all part of the Grow with Google economic opportunity program, which we previously wrote about.
With so many people out of work due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Google Career Certificates will equip participants with the essential skills they need to get a job.
The certificates will be available online on the learning platform Coursera and will focus on Data Analytics, Project Management, and User Experience (UX) Design.
Applicants don’t need a degree to enroll.
Along with the certificates, Google says it will fund 100,000 need-based scholarships for those enrolled in any of these Career Certificate programs.
The good news is that Google will consider all of its Career Certificates as the equivalent of a four-year degree for applicable roles at the company.
“College degrees are out of reach for many Americans, and you shouldn’t need a college diploma to have economic security,” said Kent Walker, Senior Vice President of Global Affairs at Google. “We need new, accessible job-training solutions—from enhanced vocational programs to online education—to help America recover and rebuild.”
In addition to those developments, Google also announced that it will give $10 million in grants for the YWCA, NPower and JFF to support job training programs and increase access to digital skills for women, veterans, and underserved Americans.
Atlanta has a lot of inspirational people and AtlantaFi.com is going to introduce you to many of them as well as cool places to go, great restaurants and other ATL happenings.
Got an event or know of something opening in and around Atlanta? Holla: CJ@AtlantaFi.com. See what’s poppin’ in the ATL! Subscribe to our news alerts here, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
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The word for 2020 is “social distahttps://atlantafi.com/social-distancing-coronavirus/ncing.” Because of the coronavirus pandemic, it’s amazing how new words can enter the vocabulary.
Atlanta is one of the hardest cities hit by COVID-19, so its residents have had to social distance with the best of them.
Here are some Atlantans that are keeping safe and fashionably social distancing, if we do say so ourselves.
Cumberland Mall
View this post on InstagramChilling
View this post on InstagramDoggone It!
View this post on InstagramFrom The Back
View this post on InstagramMask (Somewhat) On
Vamping
View this post on InstagramFlexing
Atlanta is one of the hardest cities hit by COVID-19, so its residents have had to social distance with the best of them.Atlanta is one of the hardest cities hit by COVID-19, so its residents have had to social distance with the best of them.Atlanta is one of the hardest cities hit by COVID-19, so its residents have had to social distance with the best of them.Atlanta is one of the hardest cities hit by COVID-19, so its residents have had to social distance with the best of them.Atlanta is one of the hardest cities hit by COVID-19, so its residents have had to social distance with the best of them.
View this post on InstagramDa Baby
View this post on InstagramPose
View this post on InstagramWater World
View this post on InstagramNo matter if you want to catch a comedy club, go out for a night of cocktails and hookah, or go to the club, Atlanta has it all. And if you want to eat in a special place, Atlanta new restaurants continue to pop up every week!
Atlanta has so much to do that you need a curated guide to help you sort through it all. Make sure you subscribe to our #ATLHaps newsletter that gives you a weekly tab of Atlanta events you don’t want to miss.
Explore Atlanta At Your Own Pace
First, to find all the good things happening in the city this week, all you have to do is take a look at downtown Atlanta. That’s where some of the best restaurants are as well as where the visitors, namely tourists, are. Downtown Atlanta or Midtown often has something cool going on!
Are you a beer drinker? You also may want to visit to a craft brewery in the city.
Check out these events in Atlanta today and this week and this weekend:
- For a month’s view: The Official Atlanta Events Calendar
- For a more immediate look, check Things to do in Atlanta This Week
Here are more articles from AtlantaFi.com:
