COVINGTON, Ga. — Sales of Weapons Carry Permits in Newton County have been suspended until Tuesday morning after the recent surge in COVID-19 cases left Probate Court short-handed because staff members were unable to work.

Alcovy Judicial Circuit Chief Judge John Ott issued a limited Judicial Emergency Order suspending the issuance of the permits until Monday at 5 p.m., which is after the Probate Court offices close, according to information posted on the judicial circuit's website.

Ott issued the order after he said several Court staff members were infected or in quarantine because of the the rapidly spreading Omicron variant of COVID-19.

"The court does not presently have the staff to process and issue the weapons carry permits," Ott wrote. 

The court is set to reopen Tuesday at 8 a.m. in the Judge Horace Johnson Jr. Judicial Center on Usher Street in Covington.

For more information, visit https://www.alcovycircuit.com.