Gov. Kemp gives update on Georgia’s COVID-19 response, extends shelter-in-place order | EarRelevant

EarRelevamt Staff | 00 APR 2020

ATLANTA, GA– In a late afternoon briefing on Wednesday, Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp updated journalists and the general public on the state’s response to COVID-19 pandemic. He was joined in the briefing by Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Kathleen Toomey, Georgia National Guard Adjutant General Tom Carden, and GEMA Director Homer Bryson.

During the briefing Kemp announced that extended the statewide shelter in place order through April 30, 2020, with all of the current provisions to remain in effect. He also reminded everyone that under a previous order, Georgia’s K-12 public schools will remain closed through the end of the year.

In addition to the shelter-in-place extension, Kemp also announced that he had signed the following executive orders addressing the pandemic:

an order extending Georgia’s public health state of emergency through May 13, 2020 to allow the state to deploy more resources to communities in need, lend support to front-line medical providers, and keep preparing as we brace for potential patient surge in our health care facilities.
an order mandating more aggressive infection control measures at long-term care facilities across Georgia.
an order to activate 1,000 additional National Guard members to assist in COVID-19 emergency response.
an order to suspend short-term vacation rentals across Georgia, with certain exceptions, which will remain in effect through 11:59 PM on Thursday, April 30, to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Governor Kemp’s executive orders are published here as downloadable PDF files.

As of the time of the briefing there have been a total of 9,901 coronavirus cases reported in Georgia and 362 deaths as a result of COVID-19.

The pandemic is anticipated to peak in Georgia ison April 19, according to information from University of Washington as reported by NPR.org on Tuesday.

Most up-to-date numbers, statewide and county-by-county can be viewed online in a daily COVID-19 status report from the Georgia Department of Public Health. ■