Saying that he didn’t want Georgians to “take their foot off the gas,” Gov. Brian Kemp Wednesday extended the State’s Shelter-In-Place orders until April 30, suspended short-term vacation rentals across the state, and put restrictions on senior care facilities in his efforts to contain the coronavirus outbreak.
We are making progress,” Kemp said. “While I am encouraged by some of the recent data, we still have incredible challenges ahead.” According to Kemp Georgia has reported 9,901 coronavirus cases and 362 deaths. “This is not the time for Georgians to take their foot off the gas,” he added.
Before getting into the details of his most recent executive orders or the extension of the shelter-in-place order, Kemp took a few minutes in the opening minutes of his address Wednesday to pay tribute to Senator Jack Hill who unexpectedly passed away on Monday. “Georgia has lost a gentle giant. Jack Hill was a longtime public servant and Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. He was respected and loved by countless people in his community and across our state.”
Kemp announced that he had signed an executive order earlier Wednesday directing flags to fly at half-staff across Georgia this Friday. “I ask all Georgians to lift up his loved ones and colleagues in prayer as they grapple with his loss.”
Among the challenges is the impact COVID-19 is having on Georgia’s agriculture industry.
“COVID-19 is hitting our state hard, and it’s impacting our farm families in a number of ways,” Kemp said, adding that much of the demand for Georgia farm products is from the state’s schools and food service industries.
“With schools shuttered and many restaurants scaling back, our farmers are seeing prices plummet and demand diminish. Farms that use our country’s seasonal worker programs are seeing good crops this year, but now have limited markets to sell them. However, these same farmers are still on the hook for paying 75 percent of the contract work they signed for before COVID-19 ever hit Georgia. Coming off generational losses from Hurricane Michael, this is another punch in the gut for Georgia farmers.”
Kemp said he plans to voice these concerns to federal officials and ask them to keep farmers in mind when crafting the next stimulus package.
Earlier in the day, Kemp signed an executive order extending Georgia’s public health state of emergency through May 13, 2020 — a measure that he says will allow the state to “deploy more resources for communities in need, lend support to frontline medical providers, and keep preparing as we brace for potential patient surge in our healthcare facilities. .
The Governor also announced that he has signed an executive order mandating more aggressive infection control measures at long-term care facilities across Georgia.
Under the new requirements these facilities must adopt infectious disease transfer protocols with nearby hospitals and prohibit visitors and non-essential personnel except in compassionate care situations. Kemp’s order also states that, if feasible, these facilities must provide in-room dining services, cancel all group activities and implement protocols to screen residents for fever and respiratory symptoms. Employees must wash or sanitize their hands after any interaction with a resident, and must be screened before starting a shift.
Under this order, Kemp empowered the Department of Public Health, National Guard, and Department of Community Health to issue directives to facilities to prevent, monitor, and treat COVID-19. He also signed an executive order to activate 1,000 additional National Guard members to assist in COVID-19 emergency response.
Kemp said there had been concerns that his decision regarding beaches, lakes and state parks would cause Georgia to become “a vacation destination.”
As a result, and in accordance with public health guidance, I have signed an order to suspend short-term vacation rentals across Georgia. To stop the spread of COVID-19, no vacation rental shall occur in Georgia starting at midnight through 11:59 PM on Thursday, April 30.”
Kemp also announced a new partnership with Ipsum Diagnostics, a Sandy Springs-based firm, to carry out thousands of additional tests each week.
Earlier in the day, Kemp addressed concerns that some law enforcement officers have been asking drivers to show letters certifying them as “critical infrastructure” employees. “No such letter is required, and should not be demanded by anybody,” Kemp said.
