Kemp extends public health emergency through May 13 CORONAVIRUS CASES IN GEORGIA

the declaration to expire on April 13.

“This measure will allow us to continue to deploy resources to communities in need, lend support to frontline medical providers, and keep preparing as we brace for potential patient surge in our health-care facilities,” Kemp said in a prepared statement. “We deeply appreciate the hard work of Georgians who are sheltering in place, using social distancing, and helping us flatten the curve. We are in this fight together.”

April 7, 9,156 Georgians had tested positive for coronavirus and 348 had died from the virus.

The extension of the public health emergency by Kemp, Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan — the state Senate’s presiding officer — and Georgia House Speaker David Ralston came as the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 and the resulting deaths continued to mount.

“We must continue our

aggressive fight against COVID-19,” Duncan said. “By extending the public health state of emergency, we can ensure Georgians have access to every available state resource during this crisis.”

“The entirety of our state government is working to protect the health and safety of our citizens,” added Ralston, R-Blue Ridge. “While we have difficult days ahead, we continue to coordinate with both local and federal partners in responding to needs as they arise. As Georgians, we will persevere and emerge stronger on the other side.”

Kemp is extending the public health emergency declaration without having to call the legislature back for another special session.

After hours of behind-thescenes negotiations during the one-day special session last month, the General Assembly passed a resolution authorizing the governor to extend the declaration unilaterally if lawmakers were unable to return to the Capitol in April because of the limit on large gatherings necessitated by the pandemic.

Meanwhile, the state remains under a separate statewide shelter-in-place order that took effect April 3. That order is due to expire at 11:59 p.m. April 13 unless Kemp acts to extend it.