52 people in Georgia died on Monday of coronavirus but Governor Brian Kemp has just announced his state’s gyms and fitness centers, massage parlors, theaters, restaurants, nail and hair salons, body art studios, and other businesses statewide can reopen in the coming days. Local towns and cities are banned from countermanding his direction.
Kemp says churches were never directed to close and are free to open as they wish.
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“Bars, nightclubs, operators of amusement park rides & live performance venues will remain closed,” Gov. Kemp, a highly-controversial Republican, says.
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Kemp specifically referred to companies losing “millions of dollars a day” as one of the reasons he is ordering the state to re-open for business.
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President Donald Trump has been pushing states to re-open quickly, in the hopes an improving economy will help his re-election campaign.
Kemp was the subject of scorn and outrage just weeks ago when he falsely tried to suggest the CDC had just learned people with coronavirus who are not showing symptoms are infecting people in what is called “asymptomatic transmission.” The Georgia governor used that false framing to defend why he was among the last to order residents to stay at home.
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Now, many on social media are angry, propelling “Kemp” to the number two top trending item on Twitter.
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Kemp says churches were never directed to close and are free to open as they wish.
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Governor Brian Kemp says he’s allowing these businesses to reopen because of “favorable data, enhanced testing, and approval of our healthcare professionals”. #11Alive pic.twitter.com/NbfIBeeY7l
— Chenue Her (@ChenueHer) April 20, 2020
Due to favorable data & more testing, gyms, fitness centers, bowling alleys, body art studios, barbers, cosmetologists, hair designers, nail care artists, estheticians, their respective schools & massage therapists can reopen Friday, April 24 with Minimum Basic Operations. #gapol
— Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) April 20, 2020
“Bars, nightclubs, operators of amusement park rides & live performance venues will remain closed,” Gov. Kemp, a highly-controversial Republican, says.
ADVERTISEMENT
Kemp specifically referred to companies losing “millions of dollars a day” as one of the reasons he is ordering the state to re-open for business.
Subject to specific social distancing & sanitation mandates, theaters, private social clubs & restaurant dine-in services will be allowed to reopen on Monday, April 27. We’ll release more information in the next few days. #gapol
— Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) April 20, 2020
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President Donald Trump has been pushing states to re-open quickly, in the hopes an improving economy will help his re-election campaign.
Kemp was the subject of scorn and outrage just weeks ago when he falsely tried to suggest the CDC had just learned people with coronavirus who are not showing symptoms are infecting people in what is called “asymptomatic transmission.” The Georgia governor used that false framing to defend why he was among the last to order residents to stay at home.
ADVERTISEMENT
Now, many on social media are angry, propelling “Kemp” to the number two top trending item on Twitter.
Covid has killed nearly 700 Georgia residents and cases loads are still growing but that won’t stop Brian Kemp who cares more about showing his slavish loyalty to Trump than he does the people of his state. Jennifer Bellamy on Twitter
— b-boy bouiebaisse (@jbouie) April 20, 2020
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When GA melts down just remember, Stacey Abrams wouldn’t have done this and Brian Kemp stole that election from her. Jennifer Bellamy on Twitter
— Jason Karsh (@jkarsh) April 20, 2020
Georgia has nearly 19,000 coronavirus cases.
It reported 790 new cases just today.
And 52 new Covid-19 deaths today.
But Georgia Governor Brian Kemp wants to reopen on Friday.https://t.co/6gQmBpMrM6 pic.twitter.com/Kp7UNYIbJF
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) April 20, 2020
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I’m so incredibly glad that Brian Kemp stole the election from Stacey Abrams just so he could send Georgians to needless deaths during a generational pandemic.
Just. So. Glad. Jennifer Bellamy on Twitter
— Jared Yates Sexton (@JYSexton) April 20, 2020
SHORTER HEADLINE: Georgia Gov. Kemp Announces Human Sacrifices to Begin April 24th Jennifer Bellamy on Twitter
— Max Burns (@themaxburns) April 20, 2020
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Brian Kemp’s going to kill more Georgians than General Sherman
— Adam Weinstein (@AdamWeinstein) April 20, 2020
Georgia Gov Kemp’s Re-Open America Schedule:
April 24: Georgians can get their hair done, work out, & bowl.
April 27: Georgians can go to theaters & restaurants.
April 29: Georgians can lick credit card keypads at grocery stores.
May 1: Georgians can start burying themselves. Jennifer Bellamy on Twitter
— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@BettyBowers) April 20, 2020
Governor Kemp just found out asymptomatic people are contagious. Now he wants to reopen the state shortly after issuing a statewide shelter in place. The truth is that profits were always more important than people and nothing makes that more apparent than today’s actions.
— Nabilah Islam for Congress (@NabilahforGA07) April 20, 2020
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Enjoy good journalism?Brian Kemp said: pic.twitter.com/pTfYy8rM42
— Mike Sonko (@SweatyKeef) April 20, 2020
… then let us make a small request. The COVID crisis has cut advertising rates in half, and we need your help. Like you, we here at Raw Story believe in the power of progressive journalism. Raw Story readers power David Cay Johnston’s DCReport, which we've expanded to keep watch in Washington. We’ve exposed billionaire tax evasion and uncovered White House efforts to poison our water. We’ve revealed financial scams that prey on veterans, and legal efforts to harm workers exploited by abusive bosses. And unlike other news outlets, we’ve decided to make our original content free. But we need your support to do what we do.
Raw Story is independent. Unhinged from corporate overlords, we fight to ensure no one is forgotten.
We need your support in this difficult time. Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Invest with us. Make a one-time contribution to Raw Story Investigates, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click to donate by check.
Value Raw Story?
… then let us make a small request. The COVID crisis has cut advertising rates in half, and we need your help. Like you, we believe in the power of progressive journalism — and we’re investing in investigative reporting as other publications give it the ax. Raw Story readers power David Cay Johnston’s DCReport, which we've expanded to keep watch in Washington. We’ve exposed billionaire tax evasion and uncovered White House efforts to poison our water. We’ve revealed financial scams that prey on veterans, and efforts to harm workers exploited by abusive bosses. We need your support to do what we do.
Raw Story is independent. You won’t find mainstream media bias here. Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Invest with us in the future. Make a one-time contribution to Raw Story Investigates, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you.