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Georgia Coronavirus Updates: Worker In Kemp's Mansion Tests Positive
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More than 12,500 Georgians have the coronavirus of which 20% are hospitalized and 442 people in the state have died, the state Department of Public Health reported.
Gov. Brian Kemp has issued a statewide stay-at-home order lasting through the end of April, and on Friday he strongly encouraged churches to suspend in-person religious services.
Here is the latest coronavirus news from Georgia for Sunday, April 12, 2020.
Georgia World Congress Center to be used as temporary hospital
The Georgia World Congress Center is becoming an alternate hospital as more people in the state become sick with COVID-19. The state expects the number of cases to peak around April 26.
Kemp’s office announced Sunday via a press release the state will contract with PAE to add 200 beds to a facility normally reserved for trade shows, athletic events and conventions.
“Across Georgia, we have partnered with existing healthcare infrastructure to greatly expand our surge capacity, and now we have a dedicated team building out a temporary facility at the Georgia World Congress Center for potential COVID-19 patient surge,” Kemp said.
The Georgia National Guard, Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, Department of Community Health, Department of Public Health, and contractors will begin work immediately on the facility that will care for patients with COVID-19 who may require hospitalization but not care in the intensive care unit or use of a ventilator.
The facility will receive the support of nearby Grady Hospital and should be operational within a week.
Worker at governor's mansion tests positive
A worker at the governor’s mansion in Buckhead recently tested positive for COVID-19, which sent everyone who had contact with the staffer into quarantine, The AJC reports. That staffer had no contact with Kemp or his family.
UPDATED MAP: Track Coronavirus By Population Across Georgia
Gwinnett, Cobb counties shift to four-day school weeks
In two metro Atlanta school districts, students will finish the academic year with four days of online learning. Classes will be held Monday through Thursday with Fridays used as a catch-up day in Cobb and Gwinnett schools.
The school year is scheduled to end May 20.
IRS launches new app for stimulus money
U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Steve Mnuchin said Friday the IRS will launch an app this week for people to connect with and track their stimulus payments from the $2.2 trillion deal signed by President Donald Trump late last month.
Next week, @USTreasury and #IRS will launch the Get My Payment web app where filers can enter bank account information & check the status of their payment to get their money fast! https://t.co/VCBpGD8KXv— Steven Mnuchin (@stevenmnuchin1) April 10, 2020
The Georgia Department of Labor will also begin distributing federal unemployment funds according to the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security).
A weekly $600 supplement will be sent to any individual eligible for any portion of the Unemployment Compensation programs – state and federal. The GDOL will begin sending this additional payment to those currently receiving state unemployment benefits beginning next week. This supplement will be an additional payment to regular weekly state unemployment benefits and will include all eligible weeks beginning with the week ending April 4.
The supplement amount is contingent upon any deductions required by the state or federal government.
Kemp urges Georgians to stay home for Easter
Kemp begged Georgians in a Friday press release to celebrate this weekend's religious observances from home or online.
He said the faith leaders choosing to suspend in-person religious services are saving lives.
"If you attend worship services in person, you risk exposure to coronavirus - potentially endangering your life, the lives of your neighbors, and your loved ones," Kemp said. "I know this decision is difficult, but we will get through this together.”
The governor's supplication comes after reports of churches violating the state's stay-at-home order.
MORE: How A Georgia Church Praises During A Coronavirus Pandemic
Unemployment claims soar
Nearly 400,000 unemployment claims were processed from March 29 to April 4 as the economic slowdown seen elsewhere in the U.S. begins to hit Georgia hard.
That number of claims tripled from the previous week, which saw 133,820 claims processed, Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said.
“Thanks to the governor and his support of this agency, we have been able to automate much of this process by requiring employers to file on behalf of their employees, making this process much easier for Georgians to receive benefits.”
During the worst year of the Great Recession, the DOL processed about a million claims in the entire year. In the last two weeks, more than half a million have been processed.
A majority of the claims came from those in the hospitality and food service industry.
Nationwide, more than 17 million Americans have filed for unemployment in the last three weeks.
As early as next week, jobless benefits should include a $600-a-week supplement to Georgia’s cap of $365 per week, passed as part of the massive federal government stimulus plan to help float the economy amidst the coronavirus.
Primary election delayed to June 9
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger postponed Georgia’s presidential primary and general primary election to June 9, delaying the vote by three weeks amid concerns over safety at the polls. Kemp on Saturday signed an executive order calling for a special election to replace the late state Sen. Jack Hill in Senate District 4.
MORE: Senate Appropriations Chairman Jack Hill Dies At 75
The extension of Georgia’s public health emergency to May 13 gave him the legal authority to move the vote, as well as several reports of challenges local officials were facing trying to prepare for an election in a pandemic.
A GPB News/Georgia News Lab survey of more than 80 of the state’s election directors last week found them grappling with a potential shortage of poll workers, voting location closures and difficulty implementing social distancing at the polls.
“Looking at the situation on the ground, county elections officials were still having major issues with the ability to staff their precincts with poll workers, and we felt that moving out the elections three weeks will give them additional time,” Raffensperger said. “We understand it will still be a challenge, but it’s something that’s a hard and fast date.”
MORE: Georgia Elections Officials Prep for ‘Unprecedented’ Primary As Coronavirus Looms
Deadlines for an election cycle run several months, so June 9 is the latest date the primary can be held because of the Nov. 3, 2020 general election, he said.
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