STAFF REPORT ::: Governor Brian Kemp on Wednesday morning announced he is extending his executive order that declared a public health state of emergency. This order that was originally set to expire on April 13 was extended through May 13. Wednesday afternoon, Kemp announced he is extending his executive order requiring Georgian’s to shelter-at-home. First […]
Kemp: Shelter-at-home executive order extended through April 30
Filed Under: Government, Health, Top Stories Tagged With: coronavirus, COVID-19, executive order, Georgia, Governor Brian Kemp, Griffin, shelter-at-home, spalding county, state of public health emergency
Georgia’s public health state of emergency being extended to May 13
STAFF REPORT ::: Governor Brian Kemp, Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan and House Speaker David Ralston have announced their intention to extend Georgia’s public health state of emergency through May 13. The original state of emergency was set to expire April 13. State law allows for the extension of the emergency declaration, which Kemp sought to […]
Filed Under: Government, Health, Top Stories Tagged With: coronavirus, COVID-19, Georgia, Governor Brian Kemp, Griffin, Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan, Public Health State of Emergency, spalding county, Speaker David Ralston
Rapid result drive-through COVID-19 testing now available at Georgia Tech
April 6, 2020 by Sheila Mathews
STAFF REPORT ::: Access to rapid COVID-19 testing is expanding today with a drive-through site located at Georgia Tech. The test site will be operated by CVS, with testing offered by Abbott Laboratories. At full capacity, the site will be able to conduct up to 1,000 tests daily. “Increased access to rapid testing remains one […]
Filed Under: Government, Health, Top Stories Tagged With: coronavirus, COVID-19, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Governor Brian Kemp, Griffin, rapid testing, spalding county
Kemp executive order requiring Georgians shelter in place signed and released
STAFF REPORT ::: The office of Governor Brian Kemp has released his executive order requiring all Georgians to shelter in place in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The order, which details what actions will be permissible and which will be prohibited, can be read in its entirety on Kemp’s website https://gov.georgia.gov/executive-action/executive-orders/2020-executive-orders. It is the […]
Filed Under: Government, Health, Top Stories Tagged With: coronavirus, COVID-19, executive order, Georgia, Governor Brian Kemp, Griffin, shelter in place, spalding county
DPH: First COVID-19 death confirmed in Spalding County
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The Georgia Department of Public Health has confirmed the first Spalding County COVID-19 death. State health officials say the deceased patient was a 73-year-old man who did have an underlying medical condition. Spalding County Board of Health Chairman Johnie McDaniel said the board has no additional information, and that due to […]
Filed Under: Health, Top Stories Tagged With: coronavirus, COVID-19, Department of Public Health, Georgia, Griffin, spalding county
Governor Kemp announces statewide shelter in place executive order
Governor Brian Kemp on Wednesday afternoon announced he will be signing an executive order requiring all Georgians to shelter in place. Kemp also declared all public schools K through 12 are closed for the duration of the 2019-2020 school term. Kemp’s address can now be read below in its entirety. “I’m joined today by Department […]
Filed Under: Education, Government, Health, Top Stories Tagged With: coronavirus, COVID-19, executive order, Georgia, Governor Brian Kemp, Griffin, shelter in place, spalding county
Kemp: Public schools closed remainder of school year; statewide shelter in place order issued
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Governor Brian Kemp today announced that all public schools for grades K-12 will remain closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. Kemp also announced an executive order requiring all Georgia residents to shelter in place. The shelter in place order will take effect Friday, April 3 and remain in […]
Filed Under: Education, Government, Health, Top Stories Tagged With: coronavirus, COVID-19, Georgia, Governor Brian Kemp, Griffin, public schools, shelter in place, spalding county
Kemp: Georgia COVID-19 testing soon to increase to estimated 3,000 tests daily
STAFF REPORT ::: Testing for COVID-19 in Georgia will soon significantly ramp up. According to a press release issued by Governor Brian Kemp announced a laboratory surge capacity plan to quickly increase the availability of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. This initiative leverages the collective laboratory resources under the University System of Georgia, the Georgia […]
Filed Under: Government, Health, Top Stories Tagged With: coronavirus, COVID-19, Georgia, Georgia Department of Public Health, Governor Brian Kemp, Griffin, Laboratory Surge Capacity Task Force, spalding county, testing
DNR will enforce Kemp executive order limiting gatherings of more than 10
STAFF REPORT ::: The Georgia Department of Natural Resources will begin enforcing the executive order issued by Governor Brian Kemp prohibiting public gatherings of groups larger than ten people unless there is six feet of spacing between each person. “Across Georgia, there is a mandatory shelter in place order for medically fragile individuals, and gatherings […]
Filed Under: Government, Health, Top Stories Tagged With: coronavirus, COVID-19, Department of Natural Resources, executive order, Georgia, Governor Brian Kemp, Griffin, public gatherings, spalding county
GSCSS Superintendent to seniors: We’re on your side; proms, graduation not cancelled
STAFF REPORT ::: Griffin-Spalding County School Superintendent Jim Smith has released a video message to high school seniors, a message in which Smith warmly recalls his own experiences as a high school senior before addressing students whose senior year has been so distinctly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. As he recounted his own momentous life […]
Griffin curfew lists 12 exemptions; others face $1,000 fine, up to six months in jail
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Griffin City Manager Kenny Smith is responding to citizen concerns regarding the curfew enacted Tuesday night by the Board of Commissioners. According to Smith, the purpose of the curfew is to limit transmission of COVID-19. “Hopefully it will keep people from being out spreading the coronavirus. They just need to stay […]
Filed Under: Government, Health, Top Stories Tagged With: City Manager Kenny Smith, coronavirus, COVID-19, curfew, enforcement, fine, Griffin, Griffin Board of Commissioners, Griffin Police Department, jail, law enforcement, penalties, spalding county, State of Emergency
Kemp: 2,000 National Guard medical support troops activated
STAFF REPORT ::: Governor Brian Kemp has authorized the activation of up to 2,000 members of the Georgia National Guard in order to fight COVID-19. At this time, more than 170 service members are activated in response to the pandemic. They have mobilized to support requests from the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency […]
Filed Under: Government, Health, Top Stories Tagged With: activated, coronavirus, COVID-19, Georgia, Governor Brian Kemp, Griffin, medical support, National Guard, spalding county, troops
Spalding County imposes curfew; state of emergency
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The Spalding County Board of Commissioners has voted to ratify a declaration of a state of emergency and enacted a curfew. The curfew will be imposed beginning at 9 p.m. Friday, March 27. The resolution was approved by a vote of 3 to 1 with Commissioner James Dutton opposing. The specific […]
Filed Under: Government, Health, Top Stories Tagged With: Board of Commissioners, coronavirus, COVID-19, curfew, Griffin, resolution, spalding county, State of Emergency
Kemp: Georgia public schools closed through April 24
STAFF REPORT ::: Public elementary and secondary schools have been closed through April 24 by executive order of Governor Brian Kemp. This closure applies to in-person instruction. “I am deeply grateful to State School Superintendent Richard Woods, the Georgia Department of Education, superintendents and parents for keeping us informed and helping us make the right […]
Filed Under: Education, Government, Health, Top Stories Tagged With: closure, coronavirus, COVID-19, education, Georgia, Governor Brian Kemp, Griffin, public schools, spalding county
DPH confirms 10 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Spalding County
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The Department of Public Health District 4 office has released the latest COVID-19 in its 12-county region. As of 5:30 p.m. March 25, DPH District 4 reported 117 cases in its service area including Butts, Carroll, Coweta, Fayette, Heard, Henry, Lamar, Meriwether, Pike, Spalding, Troup and Upson counties. This includes ten […]
Filed Under: Health, Top Stories Tagged With: coronavirus, COVID-19, Department of Public Health, District 4, Georgia, Griffin, spalding county
The GRIP 