Dozens of Democratic lawmakers in Georgia on Thursday urged Gov. Brian Kemp (R) to reconsider plans to begin gradually lifting coronavirus-related restrictions, asking him to wait until testing capacity has improved throughout the state.
“While COVID-19 has now spread all over Georgia, unquestionably there are pockets of the state that have experienced more severe outbreaks than the rest of the state,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter to the governor. “Giving local officials the ability to respond to the on-ground, real-time facts with respect to community transmission in the form of more restrictive local emergency orders is imperative in moving into a next phase of relaxed restrictions.”
“We therefore urge you to permit local governments to enact more restrictive measures as necessary to protect their communities,” adds the letter, lead by State House Minority Leader Rep. Bob Trammell (D), House Minority Whip Rep. William Boddie (D) and House Minority Chair Rep. James Beverly (D).
Noting the state’s “well documented” inadequate testing capacity, the lawmakers say actual testing capacity must be significantly expanded before measures can be loosened, including available testing in all of the state’s counties.
The letter closes by quoting Anthony Fauci’s “Good Morning America” appearance earlier this week, when the infectious disease expert said, “Unless we get the virus under control, the real recovery economically is not gonna happen. So what you do if you jump the gun and go into a situation where you have a big spike, you’re gonna set yourself back.”
Kemp’s plan would allow bowling alleys, gyms, hair salons and tattoo parlors to begin reopening.
“Many of the types of businesses he is allowing to reopen provide services which are impossible to maintain social distancing standards while receiving service,” state Rep. Renitta Shannon (D), who signed the letter, tweeted Thursday. “Exactly how do you get a haircut/massage/tattoo while the keeping the provider 6 feet away from you?”
The order has also been subject to criticism from Republicans. President Trump said of Kemp yesterday that he “want[s] him to do what he thinks is right, but I disagree with him on what he’s doing.”
Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.), one of Trump’s most vocal allies in Congress and a candidate for Senate in the state, said Thursday, “Leadership is about communicating, and when you are not communicating clearly — look, the governor did not take away the stay-at-home order, but yet selectively decided certain businesses are going to open up.”