The Parent Press: COVID-19 in Georgia
While we continue learning new information about COVID-19, I wanted to share some steps our state and local governments are taking in order to prevent the spreading of the virus. I encourage constituents to do their part by staying home unless an outing is essential.
I am glad that many local governments in District 42 are acting, with some issuing shelter-in-place orders, but I am dismayed that Governor Kemp has not done so. I have called upon the Governor to issue a shelter-in-place order for our entire state. Looking at the news from other countries and other states, it seems clear that a two or three week (minimum) shelter-in-place order will be needed, and the longer it takes us to get going on the inevitable, the longer the economic pain will go on.
COVID-19 Cases in Georgia:
As of Wednesday, March 25th, there are currently 1247 cases in Georgia. The DPH, the CDC, and AJC are providing continuous updates on the number of cases and a map of the cases. Out of the 1247 cases currently, 116 are from DeKalb County. DPH is updating their COVID-19 figures twice daily, at noon and at 7 p.m. As of yesterday, they also began including a statistic on how many confirmed cases are requiring hospitalization, and it is a grim 31.6%, driving home the medical shortages facing our state and nation and the urgent need to “flatten the curve.”
Governor Kemp Holds Town Hall Thursday:
Gov. Kemp has announced an hour-long Town Hall at 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 26, to discuss the growing coronavirus pandemic. It will air live on WSB-TV, Channel 2, CBS46, Georgia Public Broadcasting, 11 Alive, Fox 5 Atlanta, and Univision 34 Atlanta.
Georgia Updates: “Shelter In Place for Medically Fragile”
As of Tuesday, March 24th, the Governor ordered bars and nightclubs in the state to close and limited gatherings to 10 people or less with six-feet of “social distancing.” Georgians living in nursing homes, undergoing cancer treatment, and with chronic lung disease are under a mandatory “shelter in place” order as they are considered “medically fragile” and at high risk of contracting COVID-19.
Executive Order Expanding Temporary Licensing of Certain Medical Professionals:
Medical professionals who practiced medicine, surgery, and osteopathic medicine/surgery but have an inactive or expired license (within a timeline of five years) will be able to practice at this time to treat COVID-19 as long as the license was not under a pending investigation. The Georgia Board of Nursing is issuing temporary licenses to graduate registered nurses (RN’s) and graduate advanced practice nurses (APRN’s) who have not taken their licensing tests so that they can work under a licensed registered nurse or practical nurse.
To be clear, the Governor did not mandate the shutdown of non-essential businesses. If you feel like the Governor should do more like I do, I encourage you to contact Governor Kemp by calling 404-656-1776 and asking him to use his executive power to shut down our state to help contain the spread of this deadly virus.
Absentee Ballots for Georgia’s Presidential Primary:
In light of the unprecedented global pandemic, Georgia’s presidential primary was moved from March 24 to May 19. Considering the possibility that the pandemic could still make in-person voting a challenge even as late as May 19, Georgia’s Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced yesterday that all registered voters in Georgia will be mailed absentee ballot request forms. I strongly urge you to fill yours out once you receive it and return it in the mail as soon as you can, given the abundance of requests they are sure to be receiving.
Georgia’s citizens must be able to cast their ballots as they have done for hundreds of years, even during trying times. Especially because we do not know whether it will be safe to vote in-person on May 19, there has never been a better or more vital time to utilize an absentee ballot than in this election. It is in moments like these when I like to send a friendly reminder that the Democratic Caucus at the Capitol has worked extremely hard to make voting easier over the past several years with numerous pieces of legislation that Republicans have largely opposed. If some of our legislation had been passed, Georgia would be in a much better position to implement voting at home.
City of Atlanta’s “Shelter in Place” for 14 Days:
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced a 14-day stay-at-home order that began on Monday. As a result, all city residents have been directed to remain at home until April 6 with exceptions for essential businesses, parks, the Atlanta BeltLine, and restaurants serving takeout. Mayor Bottoms expressed the need for emergency measures to be taken to stop the spread of the coronavirus in Atlanta but reminded city residents that grocery stores remain open so individuals can still purchase what they need during this time. Several grocery stores in the Atlanta area are offering special hours for senior citizens to go shopping. A list of the grocery store locations with special hours for seniors can be found here.
DeKalb County’s “State of Emergency”:
On Monday, Dekalb County’s CEO Michael Thurmond issued an executive order declaring a “state of emergency” that has gone into effect. Here’s a bit about what it means for DeKalb:
Voluntary Curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. every day (businesses that are “non-essential” are closed during these hours)
Salons, barber shops, gyms, bowling alleys, etc. must have occupancy under 10 persons
Playgrounds and parks are closed
Funeral services can only have 10 or less people in attendance
Gatherings of 10 or more people are prohibited
Curbside and take-out are allowed (no dining in restaurants)
Establishments that are licensed for “on-premises consumption of alcoholic beverages” can sell unopened beverages curbside or take-out
60-day moratorium on evictions
Water service terminations will be suspended.
Three County Workforce Categories:
Front Line Workforce who “deliver essential government services and their job functions do not allow them to work remotely”; compensated at regular salary + 50 % admin pay and 50% comp time
Remote Access Workforce: “these employees can and will perform their jobs responsibilities remotely”
Reserve Auxiliary Workforce: “these employees cannot perform their regular duties remotely, but are available for other assignments for which they are qualified
For more detailed information, read the Executive Order.
Orders from Decatur, Avondale Estates, Chamblee & Brookhaven:
Decatur: Mayor Patti Garrett issued an Emergency “Stay At Home” Order that went into effect March 25 and will last until April 7 (unless extended further or rescinded). Specifically, the order states that individuals may leave their residences only for “essential activities, essential governmental functions, or to operate essential businesses.” In addition, individuals must maintain at least 6 feet distance from any other individual when outside their residence.
Avondale Estates: Parks are closed, and public access to city hall and public works is not allowed. In addition, no public gatherings of over 10 people are permitted.
Chamblee: Chamblee issued a second Executive Order. It includes indoor funeral gatherings and graveside services being limited to no more than 10 persons. Additionally, any businesses that remain open must follow certain regulations like having “anti-microbial soap and water or hand sanitizer and sanitizing products” available.
Brookhaven: Brookhaven City Council extended the declared “state of emergency.: Restaurant dine-in and counter services will be suspended until April 15, but delivery and takeout services are still allowed. Brookhaven residents are directed to remain home except “for essential services, performing essential government services, or to operate essential businesses.” Parks and Recreation and playgrounds are also closed through April 15.
Invest Atlanta Small Business Loans:
Invest Atlanta has created a new $1.5 million loan fund, the Business Continuity Loan Fund, for small businesses that have been disrupted by the new Coronavirus pandemic. It will offer small businesses zero-interest loans to address a lack of working capital and cash flows as a result of reduced consumer demand, the ability to fulfill product or service orders and other economic conditions. Read more here.
Information from State Agencies:
Division of Family and Children Services:
Office of Family Independence: DFCS Call Center is currently experiencing higher than normal failure rate from mobile calls. If callers experience this issue, they should continue calling.
Benefits Applications: Applications for SNAP benefits are increasing daily.
USDA Food and Nutrition Services: FNS approved DFCS’s request to extend certification requests. Impacted months are March, April, May, and June. Staff can then focus on the influx of applications coming in. However, outstanding renewals prior to March will need to be processed normally.
Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents: DFCS is working with its vendor to give good cause to ABAWDs for not meeting the work requirements in April and May. They will receive benefits, and it will not be counted against their time limit.
Child Welfare: DFCS worked with Amerigroup to donate 200 laptops and create a food service program for children in foster care.
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 Department of Revenue:
The 2019 tax filing deadline has been extended until July 15 in conjunction with the new federal deadline.
Vehicle registrations that expire between March 16, 2020 and May 14, 2020 are being extended through May 15, 2020.
Federal Updates: Stimulus Package to Be Passed by Congress
After a few failed attempts, Congress finally seems to agree on a stimulus package to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. It totals an astounding (but necessary!) $2 trillion dollars, with aid going to nearly every sector of the economy across the U.S. On top of that, most Americans with incomes at $75,000 and under will receive checks worth $1,200 in an effort to hold people over as the economy stands still. The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the bill Thursday, clearing a path for the Senate to pass it soon after. Among the specifics included in the legislation (which I urge you to read about): “a dramatic expansion of unemployment insurance, a rescue fund for state and local governments, immediate cash for hospitals and a huge pool of grants and loans for small businesses.”
As a state lawmaker, I am especially grateful for the rescue fund for state and local governments. The delay in the tax filing deadline until July 15 will make an already urgent situation with Georgia’s budget worse. Tough decisions will have to be made whenever the 2020 Legislative Session resumes. I expect that it will be painful no matter what, but without money coming in from Washington, we very well could be facing unthinkable consequences to our state’s services, including enormous cuts to education.
Census:
The 2020 Census is occurring now and I encourage everyone to take the time to fill this out as it makes a difference. There are currently three options available: by mail, online or by phone. Please go ahead and fill the Census out! The link to do so is available here.
Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) Non-Emergency Hotline:
Georgia DPH has created a COVID-19 hotline for up-to-date information about the virus. This toll-free number is dedicated to non-symptomatic and non-exposure related COVID-19 calls. The number is 844-442-2681 (Monday-Friday 8:00 AM- 5:00 PM EST).
Live News Updates:
The New York Times is providing live updates on the Coronavirus which you can access here: https://www.nytimes.com/news-event/coronavirus
The AJC is also providing updates on the Coronavirus which you can access here:
https://www.ajc.com/news/coronavirus/
Finally, Johns Hopkins has a very good map tracking the disease that I have been using. It can be found here.
Stay safe.
As always -- thank you for the opportunity to represent you in the State Senate! It is a great honor.