Georgia Governor Brian Kemp announced that certain businesses in his state could reopen this week. Georgia鈥檚 the first state to begin staggered reopening during the coronavirus pandemic, despite medical experts warning the U.S. still doesn鈥檛 have enough widespread testing to control outbreaks.
Fitness centers, hair salons, and bowling alleys are some of the Georgia businesses that can choose to re-open on Friday. Theaters and restaurants can re-open next Monday.
Gov. Kemp called the plan a 鈥渕easured approach鈥� on Fox News .
鈥淚t was done in conjunction with public health officials based on the data that we are seeing in our state and the gateways to the phase one part of the president鈥檚 plan,鈥� he said. The plan in question is the 18-page document 鈥淥pening Up America Again,鈥� which was released by the White House .
Despite Gov. Kemp鈥檚 insistence he鈥檚 following White House guidelines, President Donald Trump told reporters yesterday he with the governor鈥檚 plan.
鈥淒o I agree with him? No, but I respect him and I will let him make his decision,鈥� Trump said at a White House press conference. 鈥淲ould I do that? No 鈥� I鈥檓 going to let him make his decision, but I told him, I totally disagree.鈥�
Disagreeing with the governor is one thing President Trump and the Democratic mayor of Atlanta have in common.
Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms says an advisory committee will decide when to reopen the city 鈥� and their plan may not be in place until mid-May.
that she and other Georgia mayors were 鈥渁t a loss鈥� over Gov. Kemp鈥檚 plan.
鈥淎s a parent, I am concerned because what I know is that when I look at the data [鈥 our numbers are going up,鈥� she said. 鈥淥ur death rate is up by almost 14 percent, our positive [cases are] up almost seven percent 鈥� and we are not testing [those who are] asymptomatic or those with even mild symptoms.鈥�
Kemp says 鈥渘o locality can overturn鈥� his decision.
We talk to a business owner on the ground in Georgia, who is struggling with when to reopen鈥� and whether to follow her own governor鈥檚 guidance.
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