Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced Georgia has tested 59.7% of all nursing home residents, in addition to reporting a new low in COVID-19 positive patients currently hospitalized.

There are 887 Georgians currently hospitalized with COVID-19. Georgia has seen a 40% drop in this statistic since May 1, 2020.

UGA President Jere W. Morehead

“Thanks to the tremendous leadership of our Commissioner, Greg Sankey, the 14 SEC Presidents were able reach a unanimous decision and select June 8 as the appropriate date to begin allowing football players access to athletic facilities under very controlled and monitored conditions. The great work of the SEC Medical Guidance Task Force, which included Ron Courson, provided the Presidents with thoughtful analysis which helped inform our decision.”

Greg McGarity, UGA J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics

Southeastern Conference schools will be able to bring football and basketball players back to campus for voluntary activities starting June 8 at the discretion of each university.

The SEC’s announcement is the latest sign that a college football season in some form will go ahead this fall. The move comes two days after the NCAA Division I Council voted to lift a moratorium on voluntary workouts on campus by football and basketball players at the end of the month.

Vice President Mike Pence praised Georgia’s decision to quickly reopen businesses during the coronavirus outbreak during a visit to the state that included lunch with the governor at an Atlanta café that had resumed dine-in service. He said Friday that Georgia was “leading the way” in reopening and called Gov. Brian Kemp’s leadership “clear and courageous and principled.”

The official in charge said Georgia’s state investigation into the fatal shooting of Ahmaud Arbery should be finished soon. Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Vic Reynolds told a news conference Friday that he anticipates his agency will wrap up its investigation in a “relatively short period of time.