Gov. Brian Kemp is lifting shelter-in-place order for many Georgians

Thursday, April 30, 2020

ATLANTA, GA (WRDW/WAGT) -- Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp will lift the shelter-in-place order for most state residents beginning on Friday.

The governor made the announcement via his Twitter account on Thursday afternoon.

"However, I am urging Georgians moving forward to continue to stay home whenever possible," Kemp said.

That includes the medically fragile and elderly populations -- who, according to Kemp, will continue to shelter-in-place until June 12.

Kemp also extended the public health state of emergency until that date as well.

"in addition, I will order long-term care facilities – including nursing homes, personal care homes, assisted living facilities, and similar community living homes – to utilize enhanced infection control protocols, ensure safer living conditions, and protect residents and staff from coronavirus exposure," Kemp said.

It was put into place as the state was beginning to deal with the grips of the COVID-19 virus.

Businesses labeled as "essential" by the state were allowed to remain open. Other businesses were mostly closed in an effort to enforce social distancing guidelines suggested by the CDC.

Since then, Kemp moved to re-open parts of the state's economy, provided that those CDC guidelines were strictly adhered to by those businesses.

In Augusta,

“We certainly do not want to undo progress that had been made already,” Davis said. “The COVID-19 health care crisis is irrespective of a person’s political party, race, ethnicity, or gender.”

“As I’ve said many times, the expansion of testing is key in the fight against COVID-19," Kemp said.