ATLANTA, GA — Gov. Brian Kemp has announced the initial steps Georgia will take to reopen certain businesses incrementally beginning Friday.
During a news conference Monday afternoon, the governor spelled out a timeline for many types of businesses — from hair salons to restaurants and movie theaters — as well as churches to reopen to gatherings.
National guidelines for reopening issued by President Donald Trump said that the number of coronavirus cases in a state should be trending downward, along with a “robust testing program in place for at-risk health care workers,” in order for restrictions to be lifted.
CDC guidance released by the Trump administration says that states need to have 14 days of declining new case totals before they can begin easing restrictions.
While Kemp said that “due to favorable data and more testing,” it’s safe for Georgia to take these steps, the numbers of deaths, hospitalizations and confirmed cases of coronavirus are still increasing in the state.
As of noon Monday, there have been 733 deaths, 18,947 cases, and 3,550 hospitalizations in Georgia. Deaths make up 3.87 percent of Georgia cases. From the numbers released at noon Saturday, this is an increase of 1,278 cases, 130 hospitalizations and 60 deaths. Since noon Sunday, the increase was 646 cases, 86 hospitalized and 46 deaths.
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Beginning Friday, Kemp said, gyms, fitness centers, bowling alleys, body art studios, barbers, cosmologists, hair designers, nail care artists, estheticians and their schools, and massage therapists can reopen statewide, following social distancing guidelines.
“Unlike other businesses, these entities have been unable to manage inventory, deal with payroll and take care of administrative items while we shelter in place,” Kemp said. “This measure allows them to undertake baseline operations that most other businesses have maintained since I issued the shelter-in-place order.”
These entities will not open as usual but will be subject to specific restrictions, including adherence to the minimum basic operations, social distancing and regular sanitation.
Minimum basic operations include to screening workers for fever, enhancing workplace sanitation, wearing gloves and masks if appropriate, separating work spaces by at least 6 feet, teleworking where at all possible, and implementing staggered shifts.
However, not all officials are on the same page, including Savannah Mayor Van Johnson told CNN that the decision is “not based in any type of science or best practices.” He went on to say Kemp never spoke to local municipalities before Monday’s announcement.
“I am beyond disturbed,” Johnson told CNN’s Erin Burnett. “In my mind, it’s reckless, it’s premature and it’s dangerous.
“Our reality here in Savannah is our numbers are still going up. We still have not done expanded testing, and we do not have the 14 decline. So this just blows our minds that here in Georgia that we would have these types of rules being lifted in a time when people are still suffering.”
Additionally, Kemp said theaters, private social clubs and dine-in services at restaurants will be allowed to reopen Monday, April 27, if also following social distancing and sanitation guidelines.
Bars, nightclubs, amusement parks and live performance venues will remain closed. Kemp said his office will continue to review the data to determine the next steps for these establishments.
“By taking this measured action, we will get Georgians back to work safely, without undermining the progress we all have made in this battle against COVID-19,” Kemp said. “Today’s announcement is a small step forward and should be treated as such.”
The shelter-in-place order is still active, Kemp said, and will expire at midnight April 30.
“We urge everyone to follow CDC and DPH guidelines to shelter-in-place as often as you can,” Kemp said. “Limit your travel and limit who goes with you on errands to limit potential exposure. If possible, wear a mask or cover clothing when you’re in public to slow the spread of coronavirus. For the medically fragile and elderly Georgians, make plans to shelter-in-place through May 13, the day Georgia’s public health emergency expires. Given the risks of heightened risk to mere exposure to coronavirus, this is recommended and the safest path forward.”
For places of worship, Kemp said in-person services will now be allowed but by following strict social distancing protocols.
“I urge faith leaders to continue to help us in this effort, to keep their congregation safe by heeding the advice of public health officials,” Kemp said. “Of course, online, call-in and drive-in services remain good options for religious institutions.”
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Models suggest the state may have already reached its peak daily deaths, although 60 more people died from the coronavirus over the weekend, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health.
According to projection data updated Friday by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), Georgia is 13 days past its peak in daily deaths. The IHME model projected April 7, a day that saw 100 deaths, as the peak for the state. The organization uses overall trends to identify the peak date, rather than the single highest reporter number.
The current data from this model also suggests it may be possible to relax social distancing protocol — while still maintaining containment strategies such as testing, contract tracing, isolation and limiting gathering size — after June 15.