Governor Brian Kemp and state officials provided a COVID-19 update Friday morning. The governor said he is in favor of students resuming in-person classes instead of online learning, but he’s not planning to force school districts to do so. Kemp also reiterated his stance against mandating the wearing of face masks in the state.
“I know many well intentioned Georgians want a mask mandate and while we all agree that wearing a mask is effective, I’m confident that Georgians don’t need a mandate to do the right thing," said Kemp. "I know that Georgians can rise to this challenge and they will and I know that Georgians will do their part to defeat this deadly virus.”
While Kemp is suing the city of Atlanta to block the city from enforcing its mask mandate, several other cities and counties around the state have also ordered that face coverings must be worn, including Athens. ACC Commissioner Melissa Link had strong words in reaction to the governor’s opposition.
“I believe that Governor Kemp is a murder by default,” Link said. “He’s deliberately obstructing efforts to protect the health and safety of the people pf Georgia. Any elected official’s number one duty is to protect that health and safety and that’s what we’re trying to do in Athens-Clarke County. That’s what they’re trying to do in Savannah, and Atlanta and Macon."
Kemp did ask Georgians to do four things for four weeks: wear masks, practice social distancing, frequent handwashing, and follow the Executive Order.
