The Parent Press: April 3 Coronavirus Update
We continue to learn new information about COVID-19, although unlike our Governor I was aware of asymptomatic transmission earlier than two days ago. I would like to share some information and resources at the federal and state level. I encourage constituents to follow the shelter in place order by staying home unless you are part of the state’s “critical infrastructure'' or are engaging in outdoor exercise or an essential activity like grocery shopping.
I am thankful that so many local governments in District 42 took action last week by issuing shelter-in-place orders, but I am so disappointed by how long it has taken Governor Kemp to do so. Georgia’s stay at home order will go into effect today, April 3rd at 6 PM and at this time is set to end on April 13th. As you know, I called upon the Governor to issue a shelter-in-place order for our entire state almost two weeks ago. Looking at the news from other countries and other states, a two or three week minimum shelter-in-place order is what is actually needed to “flatten the curve” and not overwhelm our hospital system, and because we have delayed this effort, not only will the economic pain go on longer but also the death rate will inevitably be higher.
COVID-19 Cases in Georgia
As of Friday, April 3rd, there are currently 5,831 cases in Georgia. Georgia DPH, the CDC, and the AJC are providing continuous updates on the number of cases and a map of the cases. Out of the 5,831 cases currently, 448 are from DeKalb County. DPH is updating their COVID-19 figures twice daily, at noon and 7 p.m.
Governor Kemp’s Statewide Stay at Home Order & School Closings
Governor Kemp announced his statewide stay-at-home order on Wednesday, April 1st. This order was published late yesterday and will go into effect this evening and last until April 13th. Governor Kemp claims updated modeling and new recommendations from the CDC on March 30th regarding asymptomatic carriers led to his issuing of the order to “shelter in place.” The Governor’s stay at home order overrides orders put in place by local officials for counties and cities. However, the Mayor of Atlanta is asking people to adhere to more stringent measures like her stay-at-home order for the City of Atlanta. Some mayors and the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) are encouraging folks not to flock to parks and beaches that have previously been closed. Now is not the time.
“Critical Infrastructure” employees may continue in-person operations but have been told to implement 16 requirements, including but not limited to screening ill workers for fever, increasing sanitation and handwashing, providing PPE if possible, not sharing equipment such as phones, prohibiting gatherings of workers, and allowing teleworking when possible. “Non-Critical Infrastructure” workers may only engage in “minimum basic operations” like managing inventory and processing benefits and payroll and must adhere to “social distancing” and the same 16 guidelines as Critical Infrastructure businesses plus 4 more that focus on physical distancing between workers and customers (20 total). The following types of businesses must stop in-person services and remain closed to the public: restaurants (except for takeout, curbside pick-up, and delivery), bars/nightclubs, gyms/fitness centers, bowling alleys, theaters, live-performance venues, amusement parks, hair salons/barber shops (including home salons), cosmetology/barbering schools, nail salons and schools, esthetic salons and schools, tattoo parlors, and places that offer massage therapy.
Georgians are to “shelter in place” unless engaging in “essential services” like obtaining food and medical supplies, working in “critical infrastructure,” continuing “minimum basic operations” for non-critical infrastructure, or doing “necessary travel” for any of the previously mentioned activities. In the Governor’s press conference on Wednesday, he even encouraged Georgians to use FaceTime or other ways to connect virtually rather than visiting family members, especially elderly ones. You are permitted to exercise outdoors as long as you and others are practicing “social distancing.” The Governor’s Office says it has empowered local police departments to enforce the “shelter in place” order, and they may at first give a warning and then issue a misdemeanor to people who do not comply with the order. Nonetheless, you do not have to have a letter from your employer to state that you are part of the “critical infrastructure.”
The legislature will likely permit the Governor to unilaterally extend his emergency powers on April 15th, and we hope the Governor will extend the “shelter in place” order after that. The Governor’s Office says the key takeaway is to stay at home as much as possible and to even make trips for “essential services” consolidated and rare. Read more about the order, guidance, and FAQ’s here.
The University System of Georgia will offer online classes for May and the summer semester. Additionally, K-12 public schools are closed for the rest of the school year, and the Governor’s Office says more details and guidance will be provided in the next few days.
GA DPH, GEMA & National Guard
DPH: DPH has been working on contact tracing and notification since the beginning of the outbreak in Georgia, but in areas with widespread community transmission, they have been focusing on community mitigation rather than individual case tracking. However, they have been able to trace some cases back to gatherings like church and funeral services. They are also ramping up testing through partnerships with the University System of Georgia and CVS, and at full capacity, the state should be able to test up to 3,000 people per day. Both public health labs and private external labs are being used, but turnaround time for private labs is slower.
GEMA: As you know, these trying times have created a huge demand for personal protective equipment (PPE), which the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) has been working hard to distribute. Although the need is still great, Director Homer Bryson says it is easier to get supplies this week than it was last week and will hopefully continue in that direction. They have had to dip into the state’s stockpile, which fortunately was designed for this type of situation. So far, GEMA has helped distribute more than 725,000 N95 masks, 991,000 surgical masks, and 2.1 million pairs of gloves. Georgia has ordered more of each of these supplies that will be distributed directly to hospitals as needed. Because of the short supply and the inevitable hospital surge in the state, these PPE materials are still being prioritized for hospitals, long-term care facilities, and first responders. On a related note, the Georgia Hospital Association says the state needs 1,200 more ventilators as the state’s hospitals prepare for Georgia’s peak, which is expected to come on April 23.
National Guard: The Governor in conjunction with DPH and GEMA is deploying over 100 Guardsmen from the Georgia National Guard as part of newly formed “infection control teams” to mitigate infection control and decontamination at particular long-term care facilities. Read more here.
Georgia Primary Election Controversy
Both Governor Kemp and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said, currently, they are not able to postpone the primary election to an even later date (they have already postponed the Presidential Preference Primary to May 19). The election can still be postponed, though, depending on if the Governor continues the state of emergency or if the Legislature took action to enable it to be pushed back. Instead of focusing on postponing the election and changing dates, Georgia should be working on making it more accessible for citizens to mail in their ballots.
There are voter access experts who are nervous that the sudden shift to all-mail ballots could have vote-depressing consequences, so we need to do some voter education. The focus should be on what is easiest and safest for the voter during these difficult times. Once a voter fills out an absentee ballot, they can vote without having to worry about putting their own or others’ health at risk. Currently, the Secretary of State’s office is mailing all registered voters in Georgia absentee ballot request forms. I strongly encourage you to fill yours out and return it in the mail as soon as you can.
The Federal Stimulus
There have been a number of questions regarding individuals’ eligibility to receive the benefits passed in the federal government’s stimulus package. I will try to summarize them here as best I can so you know what you can expect to get as we wait for the economy to rebound.
Payment to individuals is available for almost everyone except non-resident aliens and anyone who is claimed as a dependent on someone’s income taxes. Social Security recipients are eligible. For individuals making less than $75,000 annually, each adult is eligible to get $1,200. Married couples that file jointly making less than $150,000 can receive a shared $2,400. Each dependent child makes you eligible for an additional $500. Payments decrease for individuals making between $75,000 and $99,000 annually (or for couples making between $150,000 and $198,000 annually). Individuals making over $99,000 annually (or couples making over $198,000 jointly) are not eligible for any individual payments.
The federal bill also provides billions of dollars in relief to state and local governments. This includes $30 billion for elementary and secondary schools, $25 billion for mass transit support, $3.5 billion in child care, and $400 million to help states prepare for elections.
The federal government previously waived 2 months of payments and interest for many student loan borrowers. The new bill automatically suspends payments for any student loan held by the federal government until September 30.
For the calendar year 2020, no one has to take a required minimum distribution from any individual retirement accounts or workplace retirement savings plans, like a 401(k). In other words, nobody is forced to sell investments that may have fallen in value. This year, one can withdraw up to $100,000 early from an IRS or workplace retirement plan without the usual 10 percent penalty if and only if it is because of the coronavirus (you will be required to validate that). Additionally, people can spread out any income taxes owed over three years from the date of the distribution. Lastly, borrowing from your 401(k) or workplace retirement plan is allowed at twice the usual amount.
I know there are still a great deal of questions regarding this package and eligibility for it. Do not hesitate to contact my office with any questions as we have the resources to get you answers.
Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) & Unemployment Insurance
Georgia’s unemployment insurance policy has changed thanks to the stimulus bill. All unemployed workers will receive an additional $600 per week. The Georgia Department of Labor has increased its eligibility from 14 weeks to 26 weeks, and the federal government will provide an additional 13 weeks, for a total of 39 eligible weeks. Work search requirements for individuals approved on or after March 14 have been waived. However, work search requirements approved before March 14 have not been waived. The Georgia Department of Labor will not count the first $300 of wages for partially employed people against their benefit. Georgia DOL also will not charge employers for COVID-19 claims.
There are two types of claims: individual claims and employer filed claims. Individual claims are “filed by an individual terminated by their employer with no return to work date” and usually take a couple of weeks to process. On the other hand, employer filed claims are “filed by the employer on behalf of their employee” and take approximately 48-72 hours to process. To file an Individual Claim, use the guidance under Individual Claims regarding “How to File an Unemployment Claim” on the GDOL website, and for Employer Filed Claims, go to the Georgia Employer Filed Claims Tutorial and the Employer Portal.
Who is eligible for these unemployment benefits? Currently allowed are unemployed employees covered by traditional unemployment, self-employed people, part-time workers, gig workers, freelancers, other independent contractors, people that can’t work because a school, day care or other facility to care for a child, elderly parent or another household member is closed, and people who have been advised to quarantine. Who is left out? Anyone who can work from home, anyone who is receiving paid sick leave or paid family leave, and new entrants to the workforce who cannot find jobs. People already receiving unemployment insurance are still able to receive the $600 weekly with an extension for an additional 13 weeks.
Small Business Administration (SBA) Programs
Working with UGA’s 17 Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), the Georgia Department of Economic Development, and the Department of Community Affairs, the state has created a website for guidance on how to access various U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) programs. The funding through these programs will help small businesses maintain employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting April 6, there will be a series of webinars tailored to each region of the state. Read more in the Governor’s press release and be sure to check out the SBDC website.
Gun Stores Are Not Essential and Should Not Be Open
I am dismayed that the Governor has allowed gun stores to remain open as they are clearly not “essential.” I worry that there will be a rise in cases similar to what we saw in Macon this week. As many of you know, having a gun in the home makes you more likely to be killed with that gun by homicide or suicide. Like most of you, I am also concerned about children and accidental shooting deaths from guns not being properly stored in homes. Thank you to those of you who have written to me and expressed your concerns surrounding gun violence during this stressful time. The Governor maintains that the "Guns Everywhere" law passed in 2014 does not permit him to close gun shops under his emergency orders, but let’s continue to put pressure on the Governor to close gun stores and encourage him to advocate for gun safety and proper storage, especially when children are in the home.
Kemp Should Expand Medicaid
Some of you have also written saying Governor Kemp should use his emergency powers to expand Medicaid during this pandemic. Long before this public health crisis, I have believed in and called for full Medicaid expansion in our state. Legislators have asked the Governor about this, but so far, he has shied away from it. I hope many of you will also contact the Governor about the importance of expanding Medicaid now more than ever.
Tax Filing Deadline Extended
The Georgia Department of Revenue has extended the 2019 tax filing deadline until July 15 in conjunction with the federal government. Vehicle registrations that expire between March 16, 2020 and May 14, 2020 are being extended through May 15, 2020.
Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities can be accessed at https://dbhdd.georgia.gov, and the Georgia Crisis & Access Line is 800-715-4225 and is available 24/7.
Georgia DPH Hotline & Other Health Resources
GA DPH Hotline Number: 844-442-2681 (Monday-Friday 8:00 AM- 5:00 PM EST)
· Last week Emory launched its COVID-19 Checker: https://c19check.com/start.
· Additionally, Apple has partnered with the White House Coronavirus Task Force, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the CDC to release an app/website that guides Americans through a series of questions about their health and COVID-19 exposure to determine if they should seek care for COVID-19 symptoms. The tool provides CDC recommendations on next steps, including guidance on social distancing and self-isolating, how to closely monitor symptoms, recommendations on testing, and when to contact a medical provider.
Educational Resources
· Virtual Field Trips at Atlanta Museums
Live News Updates
· The New York Times live updates on COVID-19
· The AJC updates on the novel coronavirus
· Johns Hopkins map tracking the disease
Stay safe, stay well, stay home.