Georgia’s governor is extending the two main executive orders that govern Georgia’s response to COVID-19.
Gov. Brian Kemp on Monday signed a 15-day extension of the order that mandates requirements on social distancing, bans on gatherings of more than 50 people unless there is six feet between each person and lists other rules about operating businesses and nonprofit groups. Those who live in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, as well as people deemed medically fragile, must continue to shelter in place through Sept. 15.
The Republican Kemp also extended the underlying state of emergency, which gives him powers to make other orders, through Oct. 10. Lawmakers in March, when they approved Kemp declaring a public health state of emergency, agreed to let him extend the authority as the governor saw necessary.
In extending the orders, Kemp made no changes. That means he did not update his previous order to declare teachers as “critical infrastructure workers” which would exempt them from requirements to quarantine for 14 days after exposure to COVID-19. School superintendents have been lobbying for that authority, which could let them order teachers back to work to avoid interruptions to in-person instruction. At least three Georgia school districts have already made the declaration, including the Floyd County district, which was specifically advised not to do so in an email from a lawyer in the governor’s office.
Kemp also made no changes to the limited authority he has granted to cities and counties to order people to wear masks in public places. Kemp has said local governments can’t enforce those orders inside businesses unless businesses want the governments to do so.
