PRESS RELEASE

DAHLONEGA, Ga., –– During his 4:00 p.m. press conference on April 8, Governor Brian Kemp announced he was extending Georgia’s state of emergency declaration through May 13, and extended his original statewide shelter-in-place order set to expire on April 13 through April 30. The public health state of emergency declaration helps ensure that the state is eligible for any emergency federal assistance and programs offered in response to the current COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.

The Governor and state public health officials detailed the importance of adhering to the sheltering-in-place order to help prevent further spread of the Coronavirus as the next two weeks will be critical for Georgia. Total cases in Georgia have risen to 10,204 with more than 2,000 hospitalized and 370 deaths reported as of the April 8 daily report offered by the Georgia Department of Public Health. With additional testing centers opening, these numbers will continue to rise as more patients can be readily diagnosed. As of that same report date, Lumpkin County now has nine confirmed cases of COVID-19.

“We support Governor Kemp’s decision to extend the shelter-in-place order,” said Mayor Sam Norton. “These aren’t easy decisions, but they are necessary if we are going to save lives.”

Governor Kemp also announced a new executive order prohibiting residential vacation rentals. The order is in effect as of 12:00 a.m. on April 9 and ends at 11:59 p.m. on April 30, unless otherwise extended by executive order. It does not include vacation rentals fully paid for prior to the April 9 start date and time, nor does it apply to property leases where the location is used as the person’s primary place of residence.

This new mandate was offered by state officials in response to local government leaders from North Georgia as well as coastal Georgia who in recent days have formally objected to state parks and public beaches being open and accessible to the public during the public health crisis. Local elected officials from both regions of the state, noting visitors traveling from hotspot areas, recently sent letters to Governor Kemp urging action to curtail metro-area residents and visitors from other hotspot areas around the US. Leaders noted the limited resources typically available in more rural areas and healthcare systems that are unequipped to respond to an overrun of patients.

“I was pleased to see this new executive order,” said Norton. “That being said, the Council and I remain concerned about increased traffic at nearby state parks, but appreciate the Governor’s assurances that park rangers are closely monitoring attendance numbers.”

The state also announced more aggressive measures at all Georgia assisted living and nursing homes, following the recent outbreak and deaths at an Athens-area nursing facility. The mandates require more sanitary measures by workers, and prohibits all visitors and non-essential workers from entering the facilities except in end of life circumstances.

All executive orders are available on the Governor’s website here.

CDC’s “What to do if you are sick?” – https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.html

Northeast Georgia Health System COVID-19 information – https://www.nghs.com/covid-19

CDC – https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention.html

FEMA’s Coronavirus Rumor Control – https://www.fema.gov/coronavirus-rumor-control

Georgia Department of Public Health – https://dph.georgia.gov/novelcoronavirus

District 2 Public Health Department – http://phdistrict2.org/

 

 

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