Here’s what was known Tuesday afternoon prior to the Courier’s press deadline. 

No cases of coronavirus were reported in Liberty County as of noon Tuesday. 

There were 146 cases total in Georgia, and one reported death. 

Schools in Liberty and Long counties are closed for the rest of the month and students are doing schoolwork at home. 

In both counties, they’re being fed meals at various locations around the county (see page 14B), and Liberty  County School System and Long County Schools have been proactive in working to keep residents informed. 

In Liberty County’s case, the Liberty County Chamber of Commerce has been a good source of local information on school issues and more. 

Some businesses are limiting hours and employees are working from home. Others remain open, though some schedules are likely to change as communities adapt to changing circumstances. 

After the Georgia Supreme Court issued a judicial state of emergency, Atlantic Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Robert Russell followed suit and in essence shut down circuit courts for 30 days.

Hinesville Municipal Court is also impacted by the judicial shutdown. Cases are being rescheduled. 

People with fines or probation fees and other court costs are encouraged to pay those online.

In addition, the city of Hinesville has released pages of information noting services are operating on normal business hours, but “in order to avoid spreading illness in our community, we encourage citizens to conduct their city-related business over the phone and online as much as possible,” a release said. (See more on page 14B and at www.coastalcourier.com). 

The city’s also pushing information out to its social media accounts and on its website at cityofhinesville.org. 

In addition, the Liberty County Emergency Management Agency scheduled a conference for 10 a.m. Wednesday in order to provide more information to the public.

What else?

Large gatherings have been discouraged, many  that were on the schedule have been canceled – among them the Georgia Peach 5K Run/Walk for Shelter and the city’s Farmer’s Market opening — and people are reminded daily to wash their hands and practice “social distancing,” by  staying six feet from others as health officials grapple with a virus that was unknown to most mere months ago. 

Georgia’s presidential preference primary – and the county’s TSPLOST referendum – have been bumped back to May 19.

At least early on, the impact of COVID-19 is almost like that of a hurricane, minus the devastation brought about by the storm. 

Shelves have been emptied – and are being restocked, businesses say – and still there are the shortages, as some people buy up certain products at an amazing rate. 

For example, toilet paper and cleaning supplies are becoming rare on store shelves.

All of above and more is part of a sometimes bewildering response to the coronavirus, which has put life on hold here and elsewhere for the immediate future.