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Coronavirus spread in Georgia is ‘widespread and expanding,’ says report on leaked WH warning
Georgia’s governor is expected to sign a new order Saturday that will allow local governments to require masks on public property but not in businesses.
Aug. 15, 2020, 12:06 PM
A White House task force report warns that the coronavirus spread in Georgia is “widespread and expanding” and “strongly recommends” a statewide mask mandate, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, which obtained the report.Republican Gov. Brian Kemp was to sign a new order Saturday that would allow local governments to mandate masks, but only on their publicly-owned property, not at private businesses.
“My new Executive Order will protect property rights for all hardworking Georgians,” Kemp tweeted Friday.
Although Georgia remains without a statewide mask mandate, the governor on Saturday said residents are urged to wear face coverings and take other precautions.
Businesses, such as nightclubs, bars and gyms, currently open with some restrictions in Georgia, should be closed in the highest risk counties, the report said.
Georgia governor withdraws lawsuit challenging Atlanta mayor’s mask mandate
Thu August 13, 2020
Washington (CNN)Georgia’s Republican governor is withdrawing a lawsuit he filed against Atlanta’s Democratic mayor and City Council in an effort to block restrictions the city put in place to fight the coronavirus, including a citywide mask mandate.“In light of Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms’ concession regarding the city’s Phase One roll-back plan and following her refusal in mediation to further negotiate a compromise, the Attorney General’s Office has filed to withdraw our pending lawsuit,” Gov. Brian Kemp said in a statement Thursday, adding he will instead address the issue in a new executive order this coming Saturday.
“I sued the City of Atlanta to immediately stop the shuttering of local businesses and protect local workers from economic instability. For weeks, we have worked in good faith with Mayor Bottoms, and she agreed to abandon the city’s Phase One roll-back plan, which included business closures and a shelter in place order,” Kemp said. “Unfortunately, the Mayor has made it clear that she will not agree to a settlement that safeguards the rights of private property owners in Georgia. Given this stalemate in negotiations, we will address this very issue in the next Executive Order.”
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