GA Coronavirus: Kemp Extends Public Health Emergency Through May

GEORGIA — Gov. Brian Kemp said Wednesday he plans to extend the state public health emergency another month. Under state law, the governor can renew the emergency, which was otherwise set to expire on April 13.

The public health emergency extension comes after Georgia saw its largest single-day increase in deaths due to coronavirus on Tuesday, when numbers released by the Georgia Department of Public Health at noon showed 329 deaths, an increase of 100 from Monday at noon.

As of Wednesday at noon, there have been 9,156 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Georgia, 1,899 hospitalized and 348 deaths. This is an increase of 19 new deaths, 125 new hospitalizations and 338 new cases since Tuesday at noon.

Kemp, along with Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, and House Speaker David Ralston, announced plans to extend Georgia’s public health state of emergency through May 13 to mitigate the spread of coronavirus. Duncan and Ralston said they agree it is necessary for the emergency to be renewed and will not request a special legislative session, which was tentatively set for April 15.

“To ensure the health and well-being of Georgians, I will extend the public health state of emergency through May 13, 2020," Kemp said. "This measure will allow us to continue to deploy resources to communities in need, lend support to frontline medical providers, and keep preparing as we brace for potential patient surge in our healthcare facilities. We deeply appreciate the hard work of Georgians who are sheltering in place, using social distancing, and helping us flatten the curve. We are in this fight together.

"I appreciate Lt. Governor Duncan and Speaker Ralston continuing to work with us to ensure resources are available to proactively respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, and I thank them for their support of an extended emergency declaration," Kemp added. "In these unprecedented times, we ask Georgians for their continued patience and prayers, especially for first responders, law enforcement, and the health-care workers caring for the medically fragile. They are going above and beyond to keep us all safe, and we will never be able to repay them for their sacrifices.”

By extending the emergency, Duncan said the state can ensure Georgians have access to every available state resource during this crisis.

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"Together, Speaker Ralston and I are working closely with Governor Kemp to do all we can to make sure we are meeting the needs of every Georgian," Duncan said. "The General Assembly will continue to remain vigilant and available to assist our citizens in any way possible.”

“The entirety of our state government is working to protect the health and safety of our citizens, and I appreciate the work of our state personnel and first responders during this challenging time,” Ralston said. “While we have difficult days ahead, we continue to coordinate with both local and federal partners in responding to needs as they arise. As Georgians, we will persevere and emerge stronger on the other side.”

On March 14, Kemp first declared a public health state of emergency to deploy additional resources and give the department of public health authority to direct specific healthcare action against the spread of COVID-19.

"As part of this state of emergency, I have authorized new processes for temporary licensure of out-of-state doctors and nurses, and I have authorized the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency to coordinate with the Georgia National Guard to call up as many as 2,000 troops to assist in emergency response," Kemp said last month.

Kemp ordered a shelter in place for the state which began April 3 and will continue through April 13. This public health extension does not extend that. However, Kemp is holding a press conference at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Anyone who violates the shelter-in-place order can receive a misdemeanor, though the governor says most people will simply receive warnings and will only be charged if they refuse to shelter in place. However, Kemp has signed an executive order authorizing county sheriffs and deputies to enforce the shelter in place order if necessary, according to WMAZ. Before the order could only be enforced by the Georgia Department of National Resources or State Patrol troopers.

Residents then can only leave their homes if they're doing something essential like:

• Getting important supplies, grocery shopping or getting food
• Visiting a doctor or a pharmacist for medical care
• Leaving to exercise, jog or walk, but only if you keep the minimum 6 feet from everyone else as part of safe social distancing.

As for meetups or social events: they're mostly forbidden, too. Gatherings of over 10 people are banned unless there is enough space that each person can keep 6 feet or more from everyone else at all times. Local governments are also expected to follow this rule during any meetings they may hold.

That same ban also applies to church services and funerals: they are still permitted if there are less than 10 people present, but any more and there needs to be ample space for safe social distancing.

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, the percent of people who have the coronavirus that have been hospitalized is 20.13 percent, and deaths make up 3.66 percent of total confirmed cases in the state on Wednesday.

After an initial closure of all schools until March 31, Kemp extended the closure of all public schools in Georgia through April 24, and now has closed schools through the end of this school year. All classes will be finished through virtual learning only.

Georgia's older students will also not return to the classroom after the University System of Georgia announced March 16 night that all 26 institutions will move to online instruction for all courses for the remainder of the semester, with extremely limited exceptions.

See more:

• What You Can, Can't Do Under Georgia's Stay At Home Order
• GA Reports Largest Single-Day Coronavirus Death Toll
• Updates On Grades, Graduation, Tests For Georgia Students