Georgia Governor Brian Kemp announced that certain businesses in his state could reopen this week. Georgiaās the first state to begin staggered reopening during the coronavirus pandemic, despite medical experts warning the U.S. still doesnāt 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 āmeasured approachā on Fox News .
āIt 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 presidentās plan,ā he said. The plan in question is the 18-page document āOpening Up America Again,ā which was released by the White House .
Despite Gov. Kempās insistence heās following White House guidelines, President Donald Trump told reporters yesterday he with the governorās plan.
āDo I agree with him? No, but I respect him and I will let him make his decision,ā Trump said at a White House press conference. āWould I do that? No ⦠Iām going to let him make his decision, but I told him, I totally disagree.ā
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 ā and their plan may not be in place until mid-May.
that she and other Georgia mayors were āat a lossā over Gov. Kempās plan.
āAs a parent, I am concerned because what I know is that when I look at the data [ā¦] our numbers are going up,ā she said. āOur death rate is up by almost 14 percent, our positive [cases are] up almost seven percent ā and we are not testing [those who are] asymptomatic or those with even mild symptoms.ā
Kemp says āno locality can overturnā his decision.
We talk to a business owner on the ground in Georgia, who is struggling with when to reopen⦠and whether to follow her own governorās guidance.
Copyright 2020 WAMU 88.5. To see more, visit .