SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Unlike a number of other states across the nation, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has not issued a shelter in place order that applies to all citizens. Instead, Kemp on Monday issued an executive order specifically targeting “at a minimum” some of the most vulnerable to critical complications of COVID-19 including individuals […]
Kemp executive order requires some to quarantine; shuts down bars, nightclubs
Filed Under: Government, Health, Top Stories Tagged With: business closures, coronavirus, COVID-19, executive order, Georgia, Governor Brian Kemp, Griffin, quarantine, spalding county
Governor addresses COVID-19 status; state and federal responses
STAFF REPORT ::: Governor Brian Kemp on Thursday addressed Georgians, providing updated information on the COVID-19 pandemic, how it is impacting Georgia and ongoing responses from the state and federal level. His address can be read in its entirety below. “This afternoon, I am saddened to announce that we have lost ten Georgians to COVID-19. […]
Filed Under: Government, Health, Top Stories Tagged With: coronavirus, COVID-19, Georgia, Governor Brian Kemp, Griffin, spalding county
COVID-19 testing must be prioritized, medical resources conserved, Georgia officials say
STAFF REPORT ::: As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread throughout the state of Georgia, questions abound regarding testing for this newest strain of coronavirus. Today, a joint statement about the prioritization of testing was released by Governor Brian Kemp, the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) and the […]
Filed Under: Government, Health, Top Stories Tagged With: coronavirus, COVID-19, first responders, Georgia, Georgia Department of Public Health, Georgia Emergency Management Agency, Governor Brian Kemp, Griffin, health care, Homeland Security Agency, pandemic, spalding county, testing, vulnerable populations
Georgia receives statewide disaster declaration from U.S. Small Business Administration
STAFF REPORT ::: The state of Georgia has received an official statewide disaster declaration from the U.S. Small Business Administration. According to a press release from Governor Brian Kemp, this will provide assistance in the form of SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans to impacted small businesses in all 159 Georgia counties. “This is great news […]
Filed Under: Business, Government, Top Stories Tagged With: coronavirus, COVID-19, Georgia, Government, Governor Brian Kemp, Griffin, loans, Small Business Adminstration, spalding county, statewide disaster declaration, unemployment
State officials confirm two additional COVID-19 Georgia deaths
STAFF REPORT ::: The Department of Health has confirmed two additional deaths from COVID-19 in Georgia. The two include a 42-year-old woman and a 69-year-old man, both of whom died in an Albany hospital. In addition to COVID-19, each had existing medical conditions. Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like heart […]
Filed Under: Health, Top Stories Tagged With: coronavirus, COVID-19, deaths, fatalities, Georgia, Georgia Department of Public Health, Governor Brian Kemp, Griffin, spalding county
Assistance available for employees negatively impacted by COVID-19
STAFF REPORT ::: Governor Brian Kemp and the Georgia Department of Labor (GDoL) are addressing an increase in the number of partial claims filed as a result of businesses reducing work hours or temporarily closing their doors in light of recent developments regarding COVID-19. “We are laser-focused on assisting the hardworking Georgians who have been […]
Filed Under: Business, Health, Top Stories Tagged With: assistance, coronavirus, COVID-19, Georgia, Governor Brian Kemp, Griffin, Labor Commissioner Mark Butler, spalding county, umemployment
Kemp signs amended budget with $100 million in emergency COVID-19 funding
STAFF REPORT ::: Governor Brian Kemp has signed an amended fiscal year 2020 budget that includes $100 million in emergency funding to address the spread of novel coronavirus and COVID-19. “Over several months, I have worked closely with lawmakers to develop an amended fiscal year 2020 budget that reflects our priorities, reduces red tape in […]
Filed Under: Government, Health, Top Stories Tagged With: amendment, budget, coronavirus, COVID-19, emergency funding, Fiscal Year 2020, Georgia, Governor Brian Kemp, Griffin, spalding county
Governor signs executive order closing all public schools through March 31
STAFF REPORTS ::: Governor Brian Kemp has ordered closed all Georgia public elementary, secondary and post-secondary public schools from March 18 through March 30. “To keep our students, teachers and administrators safe and mitigate the spread of COVID-19, I am ordering the closure of all public elementary, secondary and post-secondary schools in Georgia from March […]
Filed Under: Education, Government, Health, Top Stories Tagged With: closure, coronavirus, COVID-19, executive order, Georgia, Governor Brian Kemp, Griffin, public schools, spalding county
Public health state of emergency declared as state’s COVID-19 case count reaches 64
STAFF REPORT ::: Governor Brian Kemp on Saturday signed a public health state of emergency regarding COVID-19, followed by an address to Georgia residents. Kemp’s speech follows in its entirety: “My fellow Georgians: Over the past few weeks, our state has been facing an unprecedented public health threat with the spread of novel coronavirus. In […]
Filed Under: Health, Top Stories Tagged With: coronavirus, COVID-19, declaration, Georgia, Governor Brian Kemp, Griffin, Public Health State of Emergency, spalding county
Governor Kemp to declare Georgia’s first ever public health emergency
STAFF REPORT ::: Governor Brian Kemp has announced his intention to declare a public health emergency beginning Saturday morning. In a statement released Friday afternoon, Kemp stated, “Based on President Trump’s emergency declaration, I will declare a public health emergency for the state of Georgia beginning tomorrow morning. This declaration will greatly assist health and […]
Filed Under: Health, Top Stories Tagged With: coronavirus, COVID-19, declaration, Georgia, Georgia Department of Public Health, Governor Brian Kemp, Griffin, Public Health Emergency, spalding county
Governor: COVID-19 quarantine facility under construction in Monroe County
STAFF REPORT ::: Governor Brian Kemp and the Georgia Department of Public Health have announced that a COVID-19 quarantine facility is under construction on the Georgia Public Safety Training Center campus in Monroe County. Officials say this area is for persons who test positive for COVID-19 and are unable to self-isolate. This quarantine facility will […]
Filed Under: Health, Top Stories Tagged With: coronavirus, COVID-19, Georgia, Georgia Department of Public Health, Georgia Public Safety Training Center, Governor Brian Kemp, Griffin, Monroe County, quarantine facility, spalding county
Officials confirm first Georgia COVID-19 death; urge at-risk groups to prepare
STAFF REPORT ::: Officials have confirmed the first COVID-19 death in Georgia. According to a press release from the office of Governor Brian Kemp, the individual was a 67-year-old man who had been hospitalized in WellStar Kennestone Hospital since testing positive on March 7. In addition to the COVID-19 strain of coronavirus, the patient also […]
Filed Under: Health, Top Stories Tagged With: at-risk, coronavirus, COVID-19, fatality, Georgia Department of Public Health, Governor Brian Kemp, Griffin, health and wellness, illness, preparation, spalding county
Georgia reports 31 confirmed, presumed positive COVID-19 cases in 12 counties
STAFF REPORT ::: There are now 31 confirmed and presumed positive cases of COVID-19 in 12 Georgia counties. The Georgia Department of Public Health is awaiting confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on three new presumed positive cases including two Dekalb County residents and one Lowndes County resident. All three are hospitalized […]
Filed Under: Health, Top Stories Tagged With: coronavirus, COVID-19, Georgia, Georgia Department of Public Health, Governor Brian Kemp, Griffin, health and wellness, illness, prevention, spalding county
Department of Public Health awaiting confirmation on new COVID-19 cases
STAFF REPORT ::: Five more Georgia residents have tested positive for COVID-19 in testing conducted by the Department of Public Health Laboratory. Those results are considered presumptive positives and have been forwarded to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for confirmation. These five latest cases involve one resident each from Charlton and Fulton counties […]
First COVID-19 patient moved to state isolation camp in state park
STAFF REPORT ::: The COVID-19 Isolation Camp established in Hard Labor Creek State Park is now in use with a patient from Cherokee County. According to a statement released by Governor Brian Kemp, this action was taken as a precautionary measure “in accordance with the state’s strategic plan to prepare for any and all scenarios […]
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