Today at the Georgia State Capitol, Governor Brian Kemp delivered an update to Georgians on COVID-19. Before launching into the latest statistics, Gov. Kemp briefly touched on Ahmaud Arbery’s death in Glynn County.
Arbery, who was black, was shot to death by a white father and son while running through their neighborhood. Video of the shooting went viral. Gov. Kemp says he watched the video. “It is absolutely horrific, and Georgians deserve answers,” the governor said. The GBI is investigating the shooting. Kemp says he’s confident GBI investigators will “work around the clock to thoroughly and independently investigate Mr. Arbery’s death to find the truth.”
Kemp then moved into his update on the COVID-19 pandemic reiterating that these are “unprecedented times.”
“COVID-19 has threatened our health and well-being. This deadly virus has rocked our economy. While we have experienced some dark days on this journey, I am encouraged by our progress in this war,” he said.
“Most Georgians are taking this pandemic seriously, wearing masks, practicing social distancing, and following the CDC guidelines. I’m confident that if we remain vigilant, we will emerge from this stronger, more united, and victorious.”
More supply than demand for testing
Georgia is now reporting record highs in testing. Crediting the state’s partnership with Augusta University, the university system, private sector, and local public health officials, Kemp said the state has doubled its daily testing capacity. Over 217,000 tests have now been administered statewide since March. The push toward more aggressive testing has moved Georgia from 43rd to 29th out of 54 states and territories in testing per capita. Out of twenty-three states with more than five million people, Georgia is now 12th in per capita testing.
There are now more than sixty testing sites set up across Georgia with “more supply than demand,” Kemp said.
Keeping with new CDC guidance, the Department of Public Health and district offices are now encouraging all Georgians – even if they are not experiencing symptoms – to schedule an appointment with their healthcare provider or local health department, or get a screening through the AU Health ExpressCare app.
“I’m also proud to report record lows in ventilator use. Through our shelter in place order, we were able to slow the spread and strengthen our healthcare infrastructure. Because of your patience and your compliance, we reduced the amount of stress on our hospitals and their employees. Through this mitigation strategy, we were also able to enhance hospital bed capacity throughout Georgia,” said Kemp.
The governor also outlined several examples of how individuals, organizations, and businesses have pulled together to address the state’s needs.
- Old Fourth Ward Distillery is making thousands of gallons of hand sanitizer
- Kia donated face shields
- Restaurants and businesses have provided free meals to frontline healthcare workers
- The Department of Economic Development now has over 130 Georgia suppliers on their list of businesses providing PPE and other equipment
- CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart have partnered with the state and university system to test well over 1,000 Georgians a day
- Sandy Springs-based company Ipsum Diagnostics has been supplying the state with test kits
- Peach State Health Plan and Quest Diagnostics are also delivering thousands of tests to Federally Qualified Health Centers around the state so all Georgians have access
- Google is working with Dr. Toomey and the Department of Public Health to dramatically increase contact tracing statewide.
“These partnerships have no doubt saved lives in every corner of our great state,” are grateful Gov. Kemp said.
The Peach Bowl announced today that it will donate over one million dollars to the Augusta University Health System to help scale the telemedicine screening app.
Protecting the vulnerable
The governor stressed the continuing need to protect the state’s most vulnerable populations – the sick and elderly.
Over half of all coronavirus deaths – and twenty percent of all cases in Georgia – are related to long-term care facilities. Individuals with underlying health conditions and the medically fragile account for nearly two-thirds of all deaths Georgia. “These are heartbreaking statistics, and we are doing everything in our power to keep these Georgians safe,” Kemp said.
The Georgia National Guard has played an important role in doing that. The Guard has received national recognition for its work with twelve other states – from Florida to Montana – replicating their procedures. To date, the Guard has conducted more than 1,200 infection control missions in long-term care facilities, with 375 out of 790 facilities receiving more than one mission visit.
SEE National Guard working to mitigate spread of COVID-19 in local nursing homes
“I’d like to thank the more than 3,000 Guardsmen who are on the frontlines with our first responders, health care personnel, long-term care staff, and critical infrastructure workers. These are Georgia heroes, and we cannot thank them enough.”
The Georgia Department of Community Health (DPH) has begun planning for in-person inspections of long-term care facilities to assist with infection control, monitoring, and compliance with federal and state regulations. Kemp said DPH will work with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) to ensure care providers have appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to limit potential exposure to facility residents and staff. To date, the Department of Community Health has deployed 125 healthcare professionals to skilled-nursing facilities and Kemp said there are “more in the pipeline. Rest assured, we will do everything in our power to protect these vulnerable Georgians from harm.”
Coming together
With record testing numbers, enhanced surge capacity, low ventilator use, and favorable data coming in from the Department of Public Health, Kemp said “we continue to take small, measured steps forward as a state.” He urged Georgians to get important medical appointments and procedures done to maintain their health.
Broaching the still-simmering debate over whether he reopened businesses in the state too soon, Kemp said “We must fight for both the public – and economic – health of our state.”
“We may not agree on certain policies or belong to the same political party, but we all want the same things: a state where families are healthy, businesses are thriving, communities are flourishing, and people are optimistic about tomorrow. We want a Georgia where your zip code doesn’t define your potential, where opportunity exists for all hardworking Georgians. Now, more than ever, we need to put our differences aside and put Georgians first. Georgia families, Georgia workers, and Georgia businesses need us. Their future – and ours – hangs in the balance.”
SEE updated state, regional, and local statistics
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