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Debate in Georgia over responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020
These pages were updated from March 2020 through June 2020 and do not contain the latest commentary available. To submit arguments for inclusion on this page, email editor@ballotpedia.org. To learn how Ballotpedia decides which arguments to feature, click here.
Ballotpedia is providing comprehensive coverage of how the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is affecting America's political and civic life. In addition to monitoring federal, state, and local responses to the coronavirus, we are also capturing the nationwide and local debates on whether to extend or lift coronavirus-related restrictions affecting the economy, schools, government operations, public health, religious services, and travel.
These arguments come from a variety of sources, including public officials, journalists, think tanks, economists, scientists, and other stakeholders. We encourage you to share the debates happening in your local community to editor@ballotpedia.org.
This article covers the debate over continuing restrictions and closures in Georgia in response to the coronavirus pandemic. You will find the following:
- Debate over reopening plans
- Debate over the shelter-in-place order
- Debate over school closures
- Debate over religious service restrictions
- Debate over election policy
- Links to coverage of responses to the coronavirus in Georgia
Debate over reopening plans in Georgia
- See also: Debate over reopening plans during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020
This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on the reopening plans in Georgia.
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Jonathan Pope, president-elect of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association (AJC): As states reopen, businesses have become concerned about the legal liability if workers or customers become infected with the coronavirus.
"We don’t think blanket immunity is a responsible, appropriate thing. There needs to be a remedy for people who have a legal claim against a business that’s not acting safely and responsibly." - "Georgia businesses seeking protections from coronavirus lawsuits," May 29, 2020.
"Staying safe during Covid-19 surge: This thing is not over yet" - Valdosta Daily Times, June 10, 2020
"We should be grateful for good news in Georgia" - The Week, May 21, 2020
Additional reading
Debate over shelter-in-place in Georgia
This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on the stay-at-home order in Georgia.
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Governor Brian Kemp (R) (Fox News): Governor Brian Kemp announced that he would allow certain businesses in Georgia to reopen if they followed state guidelines. He argued the move was a small step and said he was concerned about economic damage if the state forced smaller enterprises out of business by keeping them completely closed.
"We are talking about a few businesses that I closed down to help flatten the curve, which we have done in our state. But for us to continue to ask them to do that while they lose everything, quite honestly, there are a lot of civil repercussions of that, mental health issues. We are seeing more patients in our trauma centers in our state. People are just tired of it. It's a tough balance. I understand where folks ... may agree or disagree. I've got some people that are protesting me because I took this step and I may have others that protest because I didn't go far enough." - "Georgia gov defends plan to reopen gyms, nail salons, says state 'taking a measured step'," April 21, 2020.
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President Donald Trump (R) (Axios): In response to Kemp's decision to reopen certain Georgia businesses, President Donald Trump said he thought it was too soon for the state to begin lifting lockdown requirements.
"I think it's too soon. They can wait a little bit longer. Just a little bit, not much. Because safety has to predominate. But, at the same time, he must do what he thinks is right. I want him to do what he thinks is right. But I disagree with him on what he's doing." - "Trump says he "strongly" disagrees with Georgia governor reopening state," April 22, 2020.
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Georgia Democratic Party Chair Nikema Williams (Axios): "Brian Kemp is playing a dangerous game by ending Georgia’s shelter in place order before it is safe. It is reckless and irresponsible for Kemp to use Georgians as the guinea pigs in a public health experiment that will go wrong." - "Kemp to lift Georgia's shelter-in-place order at midnight," April 30, 2020.
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Dr. Keren Landman (The New York Times): "For better or worse, the governor has made our state the nation’s canary in this particularly terrifying coal mine. Someone had to go first, and Mr. Kemp isn’t the only political leader eager to reopen the country. But the ham-handed way he went about it makes Georgians of all stripes afraid of what comes next, and it leaves us wondering whether he is setting us up for a punishing new wave of infections. He has clashed with city and county leaders and left business owners — the people he was trying to help — in the dark. From my vantage point as a doctor, an epidemiologist, a journalist and a native Georgian, it’s clear that if there’s anything to be gained from this moment’s anguish, it is the opportunity to help others avoid our mistakes." - "Georgia Went First. And It Screwed Up.," April 30, 2020.
"We should be grateful for good news in Georgia" - The Week, May 21, 2020
Additional reading
Debate over school closures in Georgia
This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on school closures in Georgia.
We have not yet identified any statements related to this topic or state. To suggest a statement, email us.
Debate over religious service restrictions in Georgia
This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on religious service restrictions in Georgia.
We have not yet identified any statements related to this topic or state. To suggest a statement, email us.
Debate over election policy in Georgia
This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on election policies in Georgia.
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Postal Service Spokesman Rick Badie (Atlanta Journal-Constitution): "The Postal Service is steadfast in our commitment to support democracy. We will not exclude a voter’s right to vote by delaying a time-sensitive ballot because of insufficient postage." - "Mailed ballots in Georgia will be counted, even without a stamp," April 14, 2020.
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Sophia Lin Lakin (Atlanta Journal-Constitution): "Voting by mail will be the safest option for many voters. In failing to provide prepaid postage for absentee ballots, Georgia is creating an unconstitutional obstacle to voting." - "Mailed ballots in Georgia will be counted, even without a stamp," April 14, 2020.
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Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (Atlanta Journal-Constitution): "because the people of Georgia, from the earliest settlers to heroes like Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Congressman John Lewis, have fought too long and too hard for their right to vote to have it curtailed." - "Georgia to mail absentee ballot request forms to all active voters," March 24, 2020.
Debate over reopening parks and beaches in Georgia
This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on reopening parks and beaches in Georgia.
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Tybee Mayor Shirley Sessions (USA Today): Tybee Mayor Shirley Sessions said reopening beaches could encourage people to go out and expose themselves to the virus.
"As the Pentagon ordered 100,000 body bags to store the corpses of Americans killed by the coronavirus, Gov. Brian Kemp dictated that Georgia beaches must reopen, and declared any decision makers who refused to follow these orders would face prison and/or fines" - "Officials criticize Georgia governor's decision to reopen beaches amid coronavirus pandemic," April 4, 2020.
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Governor Brian Kemp (USA Today): After ordering Georgia beaches to reopen, Gov. Brian Kemp argued that patrolling officers reported
"no issues as they patrol the beach and surrounding areas. Beachgoers are mostly locals and complying with social distancing orders." - "Officials criticize Georgia governor's decision to reopen beaches amid coronavirus pandemic," April 4, 2020.
Click the links below for more on responses to the coronavirus pandemic in Georgia.
- Changes to election dates and procedures
- Statewide stay-at-home order
- Statewide travel restrictions
- Executive orders
- Officials and candidates diagnosed with or quarantined due to coronavirus
- Enacted legislation
- Legislative session changes
- School closures
- Court closures
- Prison inmate release responses
- Rent, mortgage, eviction, and foreclosure policies
General resources
The chart below shows coronavirus statistics from countries across the world. The information is provided by Real Clear Politics.
Click the links below to explore official resources related to the coronavirus outbreak.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
- National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor
- U.S. Department of Education
- World Health Organization
- Trends in Number of COVID-19 Cases and Deaths in the US Reported to CDC, by State/Territory
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccinations, Our World in Data (Number of vaccines administered)
- Coronavirus Vaccine Tracker, New York Times (Progress of vaccine trials)
See also
- Ballotpedia: Political responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020
- State government responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020
- Government official, politician, and candidate deaths, diagnoses, and quarantines due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020-2021
- Changes to ballot measure campaigns, procedures, and policies in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020-2022
- Ballotpedia's elections calendar
Footnotes
