Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has ordered all medically fragile residents, those who have tested positive for coronavirus, those who have been exposed to the virus and those who suspect they may have the virus to stay home. He has also banned all gatherings throughout the state of 10 or more people and has shuttered bars and nightclubs until noon Monday, April 6. The order goes into effect at noon Tuesday.
The order also gives the Department of Public Health the authority to close any business, organization or nonprofit for not complying with the order.
“If your friends neighbors or local organizations are not complying, call them out, or report them to us,” Kemp said. If any establishment isn’t following these directives I would ask you to take your business somewhere else.”
The new order comes a day after Georgia recorded its 25th death from the virus and as confirmed cases grew to 772. Kemp also signed another executive order suspending restrictions against the practice of medicine by individuals whose licenses became inactive or lapsed within the past five years.
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The orders have not been published yet, so information is limited to what Kemp has said publicly. Below is the text from Kemp’s speech earlier today pertaining to the executive orders.
“Today I will issue an executive order requiring the Department of Public Health to require certain individuals with an increased risk of complications from COVID-19 to isolate, quarantine, or shelter in place.
“At minimum, this order for isolation, quarantine, or shelter in place covers those who live in a long-term care facility, have chronic lung disease, are undergoing cancer treatment, have a positive COVID-19 test, are suspected to have COVID-19 because of their symptoms and exposure, or have been exposed to someone who has COVID-19.
“The Department of Public Health will promulgate rules and regulations to implement this order and define how these individuals can access essential services, travel, and receive visitors in end-of-life circumstances.
“This order will close all bars and nightclubs, and it will ban all gatherings of ten or more people unless you can maintain at least six feet between people at all times. The Department of Public Health will be empowered to close any business, establishment, non-profit, or organization for noncompliance. These measures were developed using guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Georgia Department of Public Health. This order will go into effect at noon tomorrow and expire at noon on Monday, April 6, 2020.
“These measures are intended to ensure the health and safety of Georgians across our state, and I ask for everyone’s cooperation over the next two weeks. They will protect the medically fragile, mitigate potential exposure in public venues, and allow the state to ramp up emergency preparedness efforts as cases increase in each region.
“Additionally, I will sign an executive order today suspending restrictions against the practice of medicine by individuals whose licenses became inactive or lapsed within the past five years. Graduate nursing students who have yet to take their licensing exams will also be allowed to seek temporary licensure through the Georgia Board of Nursing. These measures will directly address critical healthcare needs in the weeks ahead.”
