Gov. Brian Kemp is not making face masks mandatory in public, but he is going on a tour of the state to encourage people to wear them in response to COVID-19 (coronavirus).
“As we continue our fight against COVID-19 in Georgia, it is vital that Georgians continue to heed public health guidance by wearing a mask, washing their hands regularly, and practicing social distancing,” said Gov. Kemp in a press release.
The governor will visit Albany, Augusta, Columbus, Dalton, Savannah and Valdosta this week to encourage the use of face masks when in public.
As numbers of confirmed cases of coronavirus have spiked in Georgia, the governor has renewed the Public Health State of Emergency until July 12.
“While we continue to see a decreasing case fatality rate, expanded testing, and adequate hospital surge capacity, in recent days, Georgia has seen an increase in new cases reported and current hospitalizations,” Gov. Kemp said in the release.
On June 15, 1,550 cases were reported in the state, the highest one-day total. It appears from the Georgia Department of Public Health website, cases are continuing to spike in the 14-day window since.
As of June 29 there have been 79,417 confirmed cases in Georgia with 2,784 deaths. Gilmer County has reported 185 cases with 23 hospitalizations and two deaths.
In response, the governor kept restrictions on gathering to 50 or less and they must be distanced at least 6 feet apart if not part of the same household. The order also kept some restrictions in place for businesses and restaurants.
Also, as part of the order medically fragile and people living in nursing homes are still under shelter in place restrictions.
The order recommends wearing face mask in public, social distancing and washing hands when necessary.