Governor Kemp issues shelter-in-place order for those most vulnerable to COVID-19

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp held a press conference Monday to discuss additional measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus that will go into effect today at noon.

He says those who are most vulnerable to the virus will be instructed to shelter-in-place.

“Today, I will be issuing an executive order requiring that 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,” he said. “At a minimum, this order for isolation, quarantine or shelter in place covers those who are living in long-term care facilities, have chronic lung disease are undergoing cancer treatment, have a positive COVID-19 test, are suspected to have a 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 if there’s an end of life circumstance.”

Kemp said during his news conference that those who have lung disease or cancer should stay home to prevent themselves from getting the virus.

He is also ordering people who have a positive case of COVID-19, those with a “suspected” case of COVID-19, or those who have been exposed to others who have had the virus to stay home.

Additionally, Kemp has ordered bars and nightclubs to close.

“This order will also close all bars and nightclubs and it will ban all gatherings of 10 or more people, unless you can maintain six feet between people at all times,” he said. “The Department of Public Health will be empowered to close any business or establishment, nonprofit or organization for noncompliance. These measures were developed using guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the Georgia Department of Public Health. This order will go in effect at 12:00 noon tomorrow and will expire at 12:00 noon on Monday, April the 6th 2020. These measures are intended to ensure the health and safety of Georgians across our state, and I would 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.”

Again, Kemp’s new order will be in place until April 6, 2020.

Governor Brian Kemp will be holding a statewide Town Hall on Thursday, March 26, from 8-9 p.m. that will be broadcasted live on WNEG.

This broadcast will include Gov. Kemp and other officials providing the latest information on the coronavirus’ impact and the state’s efforts to deal with the situation.