Georgia to issue shelter-in-place order

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) said Wednesday he will be issuing a shelter-in-place order in response to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Kemp said he will sign the order Thursday and it will go into effect Friday, running through April 13. 

Kemp also announced all K-12 public schools will be closed for the rest of the school year. 

“I want to encourage my fellow Georgians to hang in there. I know you are tired of this. I know you want to return to business as usual, but we must first overcome the obstacles we have in our path,” Kemp said at his briefing. 

Kemp reported 4,638 cases and 139 deaths statewide. 

Georgia is joining dozens of states across the country that have issued shelter-in-place orders in response to the coronavirus outbreak.