It wasn’t that long ago that Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s decision to keep state parks open during the pandemic sparked a lot of public debate, but not nearly as much as his decision to start reopening businesses today.
In an announcement Monday that was both hailed and heckled, Kemp gave the green light for certain types of businesses to resume operations.
If you want to go to the gym, get your hair done, grab a pedicure, get a tattoo or massage, or go bowling today, you’re in luck, those businesses can reopen under the governor’s plan. Hospitals, too, may resume elective surgeries that are deemed essential.
Restaurant dining rooms and movie theaters can open on Monday.
All of the businesses that open will have to adhere to specific social distancing and sanitation requirements.
Kemp’s ‘soft’ reopening is meant to address the economic impact of COVID-19.
As of Thursday, unemployment numbers show that roughly 26.5 million Americans have lost their jobs since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, completely wiping out the 22.7 million new jobs created since the Great Recession
In Georgia, unemployment claims from mid-March to mid-April are up 4,801% over the same time last year. Georgians filed 1,099,350 unemployment claims between March 16 and April 13, 2020, compared to 22,898 claims filed between March 18-April 15, 2019. It’s the third-highest increase in unemployment claims in the U.S., according to financial analysts with WalletHub.
Too much too soon
Some Georgians accuse Kemp of trying to ease the unemployment rolls by putting people back to work at a time when many health professionals and scientists say it isn’t safe.
Just hours after the governor announced his plan Monday, Northeast Georgia Health System released figures from its hospitals showing a marked increase in COVID-19 cases in the communities it serves.
“Keep in mind, due to challenges that still exist with testing, we are confident that even our latest data doesn’t truly reveal all cases that exist in our community,” says Supriya Mannepalli, MD, chair of NGMC’s Infection Prevention & Control Committee. “It’s a certainty there are more people with COVID-19 in our region who haven’t been tested and aren’t showing any symptoms.”
“Some people may think we are overstating the seriousness of the situation, and they’re anxious to get back to ‘business as usual,’” says NGHS president and CEO Carol Burrell. “Trust me, as a non-profit, we understand that sentiment for many reasons. But our physician leaders, clinical experts, and objective data all tell us now is not the time to relax. Rather, now is the time to continue to take every precaution we can.”
Even President Trump expressed disapproval over the Republican governor’s plan.
“I told the governor of Georgia, Brian Kemp, that I disagree strongly with his decision to open certain facilities, which are in violation of the Phase One guidelines for the incredible people of Georgia,” Trump said during his coronavirus task force briefing Wednesday.
Trump was referring to the White House guidelines, issued last week, that outline certain criteria states should meet before reopening. Georgia has not yet met those standards.
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Boon or bust?
Whether reopening for business is a medical mistake or an economic boon for Georgia remains to be seen. It also remains to be seen just how many businesses will follow the governor’s guidance.
Kemp’s order expressly prohibits local municipalities from imposing stricter restrictions than those imposed at the state level. Still, business owners are conflicted. Some are eager to reopen. Others are more cautious.
Franchise fitness center Workout Anytime in Cornelia opened its doors at 9 a.m. on April 24. But come April 27, don’t expect to be able to pull up to a table at just any restaurant. Some hometown favorites are keeping their dining rooms closed for the foreseeable future. The owners say it’s just too soon.
“The health and safety of our staff, our families, our customers, and our community is our priority,” Andrew Kelly and Preston Bowen wrote on their Midtown Grill Facebook page. The owners of the popular burger joints in Clarkesville and Cornelia say they’re monitoring the situation and will open “when we feel the time is right.”
Gov. Kemp is still barring some businesses from reopening. Bars, nightclubs, and entertainment operations will remain closed for the time being. Public schools will stay shut for the rest of the school year.
