Georgia will reopen its economy amid the spread of the coronavirus across the US. Governor Brian Kemp laid out its plans to allow businesses to resume operations.
The governor of Georgia announced that many businesses temporarily closed to curb the spread of the coronavirus can operate again as early as Friday.
According to Kemp, among the businesses the can reopen on Friday are gyms, hair salons, bowling alleys, and tattoo parlors are among businesses. However, they can only reopen as long as owners implement strict social distancing and hygiene requirements.
Meanwhile, on Monday, movie theaters can start selling tickets. Restaurants that were limited to takeout orders can return to limited dine-in service.
Kemp has received various public calls in Georgia for the lifting of quarantine restrictions.
Shane Hazel, a libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate, raised a small protest Sunday at the Cherokee County courthouse in Canton.
Hazel argued in a video posted online that the restrictions were an unconstitutional imposition and that officials had “overstepped.”
“My only care in this world is liberty and rights for every individual out there,” Hazel said.
Moreover, State Representative David Clark, a Buford Republican, published statements online Friday agreeing that it is “time for Georgia and America to reopen for business.”
Kia plant to reopen
Automaker Kia will reopen its manufacturing plant in west Georgia next week. The company experienced a monthlong closure due to supply chain shortages and concerns of coronavirus transmission.
All 2,800 workers will resume work at Kia’s plant in West Point, according to plant spokesman Rick Douglas.
Douglas did not mention a specific production date. Georgia’s only auto manufacturing plant shut down on March 30.
Meanwhile, around 40 workers at the Georgia plant of Kia started creating face shields to address a shortage of protective gear for medical workers and first responders.
The company said those workers undergo temperature scan and wear face masks and gloves. Their work stations are observe social distancing principles.
Douglas said similar safeguards will apply once the rest of Kia’s Georgia employees come to work next week.
Nursing homes
As of Friday, Georgia reported 1,664 cases of COVID-19 in 230 nursing homes, assisted living centers and other similar facilities.
According to a list published by the state's Department of Community Health, the data included 250 resident deaths and 830 staff members in those facilities who were infected.
The PruittHealth Palmyra nursing home in Albany recorded 106 infections, 16 resident deaths and 45 infected staff members.
Georgia coronavirus stats
Georgia had 1,664 cases of Covid-19 in 230 nursing homes, assisted living centers and other similar facilities as of Friday, according to a list published by the state Department of Community Health. That included 250 resident deaths.
