This morning, Gov. Brian Kemp extended the public health emergency declaration until May 13. His office told the Telegraph on April 6 the reason Kemp’s order requiring most Georgians to shelter in place was set to expire on Mondaywas because it was tied to the public health emergency declaration. Kemp has a 4 p.m. press conference today, where he will most likely extend his shelter in place order.
Here’s more from Dave Williams of Capitol Beat:
Gov. Brian Kemp and Georgia’s top legislative leaders jointly announced Wednesday they will extend a statewide public health emergency due to the coronavirus pandemic through May 13.
Kemp first declared a public health emergency back on March 14 as COVID-19 began taking hold in Georgia. Lawmakers ratified the governor’s order two days later during a one-day special session and set the declaration to expire on April 13.
“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 health-care facilities,” Kemp said in a prepared statement. “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.”
GOV. BRIAN KEMP PRESS CONFERENCE
The press conference is available for streaming on Facebook and Georgia Public Broadcasting’s website. Here are more details from Kemp’s office:
At the Georgia State Capitol, Governor Kemp, Georgia Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Kathleen Toomey, Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency Director Homer Bryson, and Georgia National Guard Adjutant General Tom Carden will give a briefing on COVID-19.
WHO:Governor Brian P. Kemp; Dr. Kathleen Toomey, Commissioner, Georgia Department of Public Health; Homer Bryson, Director, Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency; Adjutant General Tom Carden, Georgia National Guard
WHEN:Wednesday, April 8 at 4 p.m.
WHERE:Liberty Plaza, Georgia State Capitol The briefing will be streamed onKemp’s Facebook pageorGPB.
MIDDLE GEORGIA CORONAVIRUS COUNT
The Telegraph will provide you with an updated number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in Middle Georgia at noon and 7 p.m. Here are the most recent numbers, from 7 p.m. Tuesday.
The Georgia Department of Public Health reported 268 positive COVID-19 cases in Middle Georgia in its 7 p.m. update on Tuesday, up 20 from noon Tuesday.
Houston County saw the largest jump with six new cases. Bibb and Peach each had four additional cases reported in the latest update. Washington, Monroe and Macon each added two more cases and Baldwin had one more case. Crawford County dropped by one as the case reported earlier was removed from the count.
As of Tuesday’s report, Monroe and Baldwin County each have one confirmed death from COVID-19 in addition to the six in Houston County, two in Peach County and one in Bibb County.
Here’s a breakdown of cases and deaths by county:
- Houston 85, 6
- Bibb 46, 1
- Baldwin 27, 1
- Laurens 24, 0
- Peach 20, 2
- Monroe 13, 1
- Washington 13, 0
- Macon 10, 0 +2
- Dodge 8, 0
- Pulaski 8, 0
- Jones 7, 0
- Wilkinson 3, 0
- Twiggs 2, 0
- Crawford 1, 0
- Bleckley 1, 0