Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced during a Monday afternoon press conference on April 20, 2020, he is going to allow the mandatory “shelter-in-place” order to expire and reopen restaurants, shops and other businesses beginning this Friday, April 24, 2020, according to Fox 5 Atlanta and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Georgia’s “shelter-in-place” order is due to expire on April 30, 2020.
Kemp also indicated that he is working with other states in the Deep South — all of them ran by Republican governors — to determine ways to reopen the regional economy, despite widespread fears about the coronavirus pandemic.
As of 8 p.m. on April 20, COVID-19 had claimed 775 lives in Georgia and there were 19,399 confirmed cases with many requiring hospitalization, according to stats supplied by NPR.
Below is a list of of businesses Kemp is prepared to reopen at the end of the week:
KEMP: This Friday allowing certain businesses to reopen:
Gyms
Fitness centers
Barbers
Hair dressers
Nail salons
Massage therapists.Expecting they still practice social distancing, regular santization, testing workers for flu and teleworking where possible @FOX5Atlanta #Fox5atl
— Christine Sperow FOX 5 (@ChristineOnTV) April 20, 2020
In addition, Kemp announced during the press conference he is going to allow the reopening of theaters, churches and sit-down restaurants. But he expects citizens and businesses adhere to the six-feet social distancing guidelines for the foreseeable future.
Two occurrences happened that increased Kemp’s comfort level to restart the state economy on a small scale. First, the cases and deaths from COVID-19 have peaked and flattened out, according to data the Health Department unveiled to the governor.
Secondly, state officials are partnering up with the state’s university system to increase testing. An app will be available for screening for those who believe they’ve contracted coronavirus. All senior citizens facilities are now required to report new cases to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The riskiness of Gov. Brian Kemp's decision to reopen Georgia business so soon after shutdown was made clear by the fact that he put Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan and House Speaker David Ralston in front of the cameras. If it backfires, the governor won't be the only one on the hook.
— Patricia Murphy (@MurphyAJC) April 20, 2020
There are some citizens who expressed trepidation about Georgia and other states possibly opening up too soon before COVID-19 is definitively and incontrovertibly under control in the state and the U.S.
Click “continue” to view the TV report and then view the responses to Kemp’s surprising announcement to the reopening of some businesses in Georgia.
