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Documenting Georgia's path to recovery from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020-2021

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Georgia coronavirus coverage
Debate in Georgia
Georgia government responses
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Multistate agreements • Non-governmental plans
Debate over responses to the coronavirus pandemic
Elections • Religious service restrictions • School closures • State lockdowns • Debates by state
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Reopening plans by state


Ballotpedia’s coverage of COVID-19 includes how federal, state, and local governments are responding, and how those responses are influencing election rules and operations, political campaigns, the economy, schools, and more.

This article contains a general timeline of noteworthy state government responses to the coronavirus pandemic since April 2020. It also includes details on three specific types of state responses to the pandemic:

Additionally, the article includes:


Response news updates

The following section provides a timeline of Georgia's reopening activity beginning in April 2020. The entries, which come from our Documenting America's Path to Recovery newsletter, are sorted by month in reverse chronological order. The date shown is the day that we wrote about them in the newsletter. They appear exactly as they appeared in the newsletter.

July 2021

  • July 1: On Wednesday, June 30, Gov. Brian Kemp (R) ended the statewide COVID-19 emergency and issued two orders that maintain several provisions of the emergency order, including the suspension of some rules related to remote notarization and remote grand jury proceedings.

June 2021

  • June 28: The state stopped participating in pandemic-related federal unemployment benefit programs June 26. Gov. Brian Kemp (R) made the announcement May 13.
  • June 23: On Tuesday, June 22, Gov. Brian Kemp (R) extended the statewide COVID-19 emergency through July 1. Kemp said he would not extend the emergency beyond that date.
  • June 1: On Friday, May 28, Gov. Brian Kemp (R) issued an order eliminating remaining COVID-19 rules on restaurants, bars, conventions, childcare facilities, and live performance venues. Kemp’s order also states that schools cannot use his public health emergency declarations as justification for requiring students to wear face coverings, though his order does not prohibit schools from doing so.

May 2021

  • May 27: On Wednesday, May 26, Gov. Brian Kemp (R) issued an order prohibiting state agencies from requiring proof of vaccination to access facilities or receive services. The order also says no proof of vaccination will be required to enter Georgia.
  • May 26: On Tuesday, March 25, Gov. Brian Kemp (R) issued an order prohibiting state agencies from requiring employees to prove their COVID-19 vaccination status.
  • May 24: The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency closed the eight remaining state-run mass vaccination sites on May 21 because of the availability of vaccines at local providers.
  • May 13: On Thursday, May 13, Gov. Brian Kemp (R) announced the state would stop participating in federal pandemic unemployment programs in June. Kemp did not provide a date, but said it would happen in “mid to late June.”
  • May 3: On Friday, April 30, Gov. Brian Kemp (R) issued an order removing coronavirus restrictions on most businesses, including bars, movie theaters, and daycare centers. The order encourages people to practice social distancing but, unlike previous orders, does not require it. Live performance venues and graduation ceremonies are no longer required to follow specific rules but must follow general mitigation guidelines that apply to all businesses, such as keeping sick workers home and engaging in enhanced sanitation.

April 2021

  • April 27: The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency announced it would close the eight remaining mass vaccination sites on May 21 because of the availability of vaccines at local providers.
  • April 7: Gov. Brian Kemp (R) will ease restrictions on businesses and individuals starting April 7. Once the order takes effect, there will no longer be a ban on gatherings or any social distance requirements in businesses like bars, movie theaters, or gyms. Additionally, Kemp’s order prohibits law enforcement from closing businesses and organizations that do not comply with COVID-19 restrictions.
  • April 1: On Wednesday, March 31, Gov. Brian Kemp (R) extended the COVID-19 public health state of emergency through April 30. Kemp also eased restrictions on businesses and individuals, effective April 7. Once the order takes effect, there will no longer be a ban on gatherings or any social distance requirements in businesses like bars, movie theaters, or gyms. Additionally, Kemp’s order prohibits law enforcement from closing businesses and organizations that do not comply with COVID-19 restrictions.

March 2021

  • March 25: All residents 16 and older are eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine starting Thursday, March 25.
  • March 17:
    • The state opened five mass vaccination sites on March 17 in Bartow, Muscogee, Washington, Chatham, and Ware counties.
    • On Tuesday, March 16, Gov. Brian Kemp (R) announced that judges and courtroom staff are now eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine.
  • March 15:
    • People 55 and older became eligible for a coronavirus vaccine on March 15. People age 16 and older with high-risk medical conditions, including cancer and diabetes, also became eligible.
    • On Friday, March 12, Gov. Brian Kemp (R) extended statewide coronavirus restrictions and guidance through March 31. The new order included some modifications, such as combining restaurant and bar requirements to hold both to the same COVID-19 cleaning and mitigation standards.
  • March 11: On Wednesday, March 10, Gov. Brian Kemp (R) announced that people 55 and older will become eligible for a coronavirus vaccine on March 15. People age 16 and older with high-risk medical conditions, including cancer and diabetes, will also become eligible.
  • March 8: Public and private K-12 teachers and staff are eligible to receive coronavirus vaccines starting March 8. Eligibility is also expanding to include preschool and daycare staff, the parents of children with state-defined complex medical conditions, and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
  • March 4: On Wednesday, March 3, Gov. Brian Kemp (R) announced the state will open five mass vaccination sites beginning March 17 in Bartow, Muscogee, Washington, Chatham, and Ware counties.
  • March 1: On Friday, Feb. 26, Gov. Brian Kemp (R) issued two executive orders. The first extends the state of emergency through April 6, while the second extends restrictions and guidance through March 15.

February 2021

  • February 26: On Thursday, Feb. 25, Gov. Brian Kemp (R) announced that public and private K-12 teachers and staff will become eligible to receive coronavirus vaccines March 8. Eligibility will also expand to include preschool and daycare staff, the parents of children with state-defined complex medical conditions, and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
  • February 22: The state is opening four vaccination sites on Monday, Feb. 22. Each site will dispense around 22,000 shots a week.
  • February 16: On Monday, Feb. 15, Gov. Brian Kemp (R) issued a new executive order requiring restaurants and other businesses to ensure their ventilation systems properly increase air circulation and purification. The order also allows individuals to apply to renew their weapons carry license up to 120 days after the expiration date if the license expires during the pandemic.

January 2021

  • January 25: On Friday, Jan. 22, Gov. Brian Kemp (R) issued an order easing safety requirements for healthcare workers to administer COVID-19 vaccines. Under the new order, nurses, medical assistants, and physician assistants no longer need to be directly supervised to administer the vaccines. Instead, those healthcare workers can be supervised remotely if they have completed the required training. The order also allows nurses whose licenses have expired within the last five years to apply for a temporary permit to administer vaccines.
  • January 4: On Wednesday, Dec. 30, Gov. Brian Kemp (R) announced that first responders, firefighters, law enforcement, and individuals 65 and older can get the COVID-19 vaccine under the state’s distribution plan. Previously, only healthcare workers and residents and staff in long-term care facilities were eligible in the plan’s first phase.

December 2020

  • December 21: On Friday, Dec. 18, Gov. Brain Kemp (R) announced the state was directing around $70 million dollars through March 2021 to help hospitals and long-term care facilities care for COVID-19 patients and distribute vaccines.
  • December 1: On Tuesday, Dec. 1, Gov. Brian Kemp (R) extended the state of emergency through January 8, 2021, and waived restrictions to allow nurses and pharmacists to administer COVID-19 vaccines.

November 2020

  • November 17: On Friday, Nov. 13, Gov. Brian Kemp (R) issued an executive order extending the state’s coronavirus restrictions through the end of the month, including a ban on gatherings of 50 or more people.

October 2020

  • October 27: On Oct. 30, Gov. Brian Kemp (R) extended the public health emergency order through Dec. 9 and the COVID-19 emergency order through Nov. 15.
  • October 16: On Thursday, Oct. 15, Gov. Brian Kemp (R) extended the executive order outlining the state’s coronavirus restrictions through Oct. 31. The order includes requirements for businesses, including bars and restaurants, and a cap on gatherings larger than 50 people where social distancing can’t be followed.
  • October 9: The Georgia Association of Educators, the state’s largest teachers’ union, sued Gov. Brian Kemp (R) and other top officials in a lawsuit to require the state to enforce binding reopening guidance for schools. In its school reopening guidance released in July, the Georgia Department of Education left reopening decisions to local school districts.

September 2020

  • September 30: On Sept. 30, Cody Hall, the press secretary for Gov. Brian Kemp (R), announced that the Governor would issue an executive order extending the state’s coronavirus restrictions. Hall did not say if the new order would modify any of the existing restrictions, which were last extended on Sept. 15.
  • September 16: Gov. Brian Kemp (R) signed an executive order creating a three-phase system for reopening nursing homes to in-person visitation. The phases are based on the rate of testing, length of time since a new case, and community spread.

August 2020

  • August 27: Gov. Brian Kemp (R) said he was considering creating mobile testing units to deploy to schools and colleges across the state. Kemp said stationary testing site use was declining and creating mobile sites would allow the state to use the excess capacity.
  • August 17: On Aug. 15, Gov. Brian Kemp (R) signed an executive order allowing local governments to enact mask mandates. The order prevents local mandates from resulting in fines or penalties against private businesses or organizations and limits penalties against individuals to $50. State policy previously prevented local governments from issuing their own mandates. That policy led to a lawsuit between Kemp and the city of Atlanta. You can read more about that lawsuit here.

July 2020

  • July 21: At a press conference, Gov. Brian Kemp (R) and Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Kathleen Toomey requested Georgia residents wear a mask in public or when social distancing inside is not possible. Georgia is one of 20 states with a Republican governor to not have a face mask mandate.
  • July 16: Gov. Brian Kemp (R) issued an order preventing local governments from issuing mask requirements. The action voided 15 previously implemented local orders in the state.

June 2020

  • June 30: Gov. Brain Kemp (R) extended the state’s social distancing rules for businesses and vulnerable residents. Kemp also extended the state’s public health emergency until August 11. The emergency includes a ban on gatherings of up to 50 individuals.
  • June 19: Gov. Brian Kemp (R) said he would apply for a waiver from Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to forgo standardized testing for the 2020-2021 school year. Georgia used such a waiver to forgo testing during the 2019-2020 school year.
  • June 12: Gov. Brian Kemp (R) announced that spectator sports, live performance venues, and conventions could reopen beginning July 1.

May 2020

  • May 13: On May 12, Gov. Brian Kemp (R) announced that pools could reopen under social distancing and health guidelines on May 14. He also extended his order closing bars, nightclubs, performance venues, and amusement parks through the end of the month.
  • May 1: Gov. Brian Kemp (R) extended the shelter-in-place order for the elderly and other medically fragile groups to June 12. As part of the order, long-term care facilities are also required to use enhanced infection control protocols. The stay-at-home order for all other groups expired April 30. Georgia is a Republican trifecta.

April 2020

  • April 27: Gov. Brian Kemp's (R) April 23 executive order established guidelines allowing certain businesses to reopen. These include: gyms, bowling alleys, body art studios, and businesses run by barbers, cosmetologists, estheticians, and massage therapists last Friday and restaurants and movie theaters Monday. Georgia is a Republican trifecta.


Vaccine distribution

This section contains a table of quick facts on the state’s vaccine distribution plan and a timeline of noteworthy events, including updates on vaccine availability for new groups of individuals, changes to state distribution plans, and much more. If you know of a noteworthy story we are missing, please email us at editor@ballotpedia.org.

The Georgia Department of Public Health released a distribution plan on November 6, 2020.

Quick facts

Georgia state vaccination plan quick information
What governing entities are responsible for vaccine allocation and distribution?[1] Department of Public Health COVID-19 Vaccine Core Planning & Coordination Team
Where can I find a quick breakdown of phases in my state? Vaccine administration in Georgia.
Where can I find the distribution plan? Georgia COVID-19 Vaccination Plan
When was the plan first released to the public? November 6, 2020
When was the plan most recently updated? March 4, 2021
Where can I find answers to frequently asked questions? Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find data related to the coronavirus in my state? Georgia COVID-19 Vaccine Status Dashboard
Where is the state health department's homepage? Georgia Department of Public Health
Where can I find additional information about the state's vaccine distribution? The COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan in Georgia - AARP

Timeline

  • April 26, 2021: The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency announced it would close the state's eight remaining mass vaccination sites on May 21 because of the availability of vaccines at local providers.[2]
  • March 25, 2021: Georgia residents 16 and older became eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine.[3]
  • March 16, 2021: Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) announced that judges and courtroom staff were eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine.[4]
  • March 15, 2021: Georgia residents 55 and older became eligible for a coronavirus vaccine. People age 16 and older with high-risk medical conditions, including cancer and diabetes, also became eligible.[5]
  • March 10, 2021: Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) announced that people 55 and older would become eligible for a coronavirus vaccine on March 15. People age 16 and older with high-risk medical conditions, including cancer and diabetes, were also scheduled to become eligible.[6]
  • March 8, 2021: In Georgia, public and private K-12 teachers and staff became eligible to receive coronavirus vaccines starting March 8. Eligibility also expanded to include preschool and daycare staff, the parents of children with state-defined complex medical conditions, and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.[7]
  • February 25, 2021: Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) announced that public and private K-12 teachers and staff would become eligible to receive coronavirus vaccines March 8. Eligibility was also scheduled to expand on the same day to include preschool and daycare staff, the parents of children with state-defined complex medical conditions, and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.[8]
  • February 22, 2021: In Georgia, the state opened four vaccination sites. Each site was scheduled to dispense around 22,000 shots a week.[9]
  • January 22, 2021: Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) issued an order easing safety requirements for healthcare workers to administer COVID-19 vaccines. Under the order, nurses, medical assistants, and physician assistants no longer needed to be directly supervised to administer the vaccines. Instead, those healthcare workers could be supervised remotely if they had completed the required training. The order also allowed nurses whose licenses had expired within the last five years to apply for a temporary permit to administer vaccines.[10]
  • December 30, 2020: Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) announced first responders, firefighters, law enforcement, and individuals 65 and older could receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Phase 1a of the state’s distribution plan. Previously, only healthcare workers and residents and staff in long-term care facilities were eligible in the plan’s first phase.[11]

Statewide travel restrictions

See also: Travel restrictions issued by states in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020-2021

As of September 7, 2021, Georgia had not issued any travel restrictions.

More information can be found at Explore Georgia.


School reopenings and closures

See also: School responses in Georgia to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

Schools in Georgia were closed to in-person instruction on March 18, 2020, and remained closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 academic year. To notify us of when schools were allowed to reopen statewide, email us. The timeline below lists statewide responses we tracked.

  • June 29, 2021: At the end of the school year, Burbio reported most schools were in-person in Georgia .[12][13]
  • Sept. 10, 2020: At the beginning of the school year, Burbio reported about half of schools were in-person in Georgia .[14][15]
  • July 14, 2020: The Georgia Department of Education released reopening guidance for schools for the 2020-2021 school year.[16]
  • June 18, 2020: Gov. Brian Kemp (R) said that he would apply for a waiver to forgo standardized testing for the 2020-2021 school year.[17]


  • April 1, 2020: Kemp announced that schools would remain closed for the remainder of the school year. Prior to the order, the state's school closure was scheduled to end April 24.[18]
  • March 26, 2020: Kemp announced that the statewide school closure, scheduled to end March 31, was extended through April 24.[19]
  • March 16, 2020: Kemp announced the closure of the state's public elementary, secondary, and post-secondary schools from March 18 through the end of the month.[4]

Statewide mask requirements

See also: State-level mask requirements in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020


On July 15, Gov. Brian Kemp (R) issued an order preventing local governments from issuing mask requirements. The action voided 15 previously implemented local orders in the state.

On Aug. 15, Kemp signed an executive order allowing local governments to enact mask mandates. The order prevented local mandates from resulting in fines or penalties against private businesses or organizations and limits penalties against individuals to $50.[20]


Noteworthy lawsuits

See also: Lawsuits about state actions and policies in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020-2021

Kemp v. Bottoms: On July 16, 2020, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) sued Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) and members of the Atlanta City Council, seeking to have the Superior Court of Fulton County invalidate and enjoin enforcement of local orders related to COVID-19. These orders mandated that people wear face coverings inside all businesses and restricted the number of individuals who could congregate on city property, requirements that went beyond those imposed by the state. Kemp’s complaint argued that Atlanta "may only exercise the powers delegated to it by the state, and Mayor Bottoms' attempts to exercise an undelegated power against the state are" beyond her legal authority. Kemp also claimed that Georgia law provided him "the power to suspend municipal orders that are contradictory to any state law or to his executive orders." Kemp asked the court to invalidate the orders. Bottoms responded to the suit on Twitter: "3104 Georgians have died and I and my family are amongst the 106k who have tested positive for COVID-19," adding that "[a] better use of taxpayer money would be to expand testing and contact tracing."[21][22][23]

On August 13, 2020, Kemp withdrew the lawsuit. On August 15, 2020, Kemp issued an executive order authorizing any city or county government to implement mask mandates on government-owned property. The order also authorized localities meeting a specified COVID-19 prevalence threshold (at least 100 cases per 100,000 people for the preceding 14-day period) to implement broader mask mandates.[24][25]

Brown v. Azar: On September 8, 2020, a landlord filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia against the nationwide eviction moratorium issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The moratorium temporarily halted residential evictions for most renters in order "to prevent the further spread of COVID-19." In his complaint, plaintiff and landlord Rick Brown argued that the CDC moratorium, if enforced, "would abrogate the right to access the courts, violate limits on the Supremacy Clause, implicate the nondelegation doctrine, and traduce anti-commandeering principles." Brown contended that the CDC unconstitutionally "displaces inherent state authority over residential evictions" and "impermissibly commandeers state courts and state officers" to enforce the emergency moratorium. The CDC had not commented publicly on the suit, as of September 9, 2020.[26]

Georgia Association of Educators v. Kemp: On October 8, 2020, the Georgia Association of Educators (GAE), the state's largest teachers' union, sued Governor Brian Kemp (R) and other state officials in the Fulton County Superior Court, seeking a court order that would require the state to issue statewide school reopening plans "reasonably calculated to ensure that schools operate safely in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and consistent with the guidelines issued by recognized public health authorities such as the CDC." The GAE alleged that Kemp's delegation of reopening protocols to local districts constituted a failure to provide an adequate public education as required under the Georgia Constitution. In response to the lawsuit, Georgia State Superintendent Richard Woods, who was also named as a defendant, defended the state's approach to reopening schools, saying, "Unlike several states, Georgia schools retain the authority to remain fully virtual instead of being required to offer in-person instruction."[27][28]

Officials and candidates diagnosed with or quarantined due to coronavirus

See also: Government official, politician, and candidate deaths, diagnoses, and quarantines due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020-2021

The table below lists officials or candidates who have been diagnosed with or quarantined due to coronavirus. The most recent announcements appear first.

Name Office Date Status
Drew Ferguson U.S. House Georgia District 3 October 30, 2020 Ferguson announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19 and would be working from home for the time being.[29]
Austin Scott U.S. House Georgia District 8 November 30, 2020 Scott announced that he had tested positive for coronavirus.[30]
Rick Allen U.S. House Georgia District 12 November 24, 2020 Allen announced that he had tested positive for coronavirus.[31]
David Lucas Sr. Georgia State Senate District 26 November 12, 2020 Lucas' wife confirmed he was in the hospital with COVID-19.[32]
Doug Collins U.S. House Georgia District 9 March 9, 2020 Collins announced he would self-quarantine following his exposure to an individual who had tested positive for coronavirus.[33]
Brian Kemp Governor of Georgia March 29, 2021 A representative for Kemp said he had started a self-quarantine after being exposed to someone over the weekend who tested positive for COVID-19. He tested negative for the virus March 29.[34]
Matthew Gambill Georgia House of Representatives District 15 March 27, 2020 Gambill tested positive for coronavirus.[35]
Lester Jackson Georgia State Senate District 2 March 25, 2020 Jackson announced he tested positive for coronavirus.[36]
Angelika Kausche Georgia House of Representatives District 50 March 24, 2020 It was announced that Angelika Kausche self-quarantined after her husband tested positive for coronavirus.[37]
Nikema Williams Georgia State Senate District 39 March 23, 2020 Williams announced that she had tested positive for coronavirus.[38]
Bruce Thompson (Georgia) Georgia State Senate District 14 March 22, 2020 Thompson announced that he tested positive for coronavirus.[39] Previously, he announced a self-quarantine after being hospitalized with an undiagnosed illness.[40]
Kay Kirkpatrick Georgia State Senate District 32 March 20, 2020 Kirkpatrick announced she tested positive for coronavirus[41]
Sheikh Rahman Georgia State Senate District 5 March 19, 2020 Rahman, along with his Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen.Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[42]
Jen Jordan Georgia State Senate District 6 March 19, 2020 Jordan, along with her Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen.Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[43]
Jesse Stone Georgia State Senate District 23 March 19, 2020 Stone, along with his Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen. Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[44]
John Albers Georgia State Senate District 56 March 19, 2020 Albers, along with his Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen. Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[45]
John F. Kennedy (Georgia) Georgia State Senate District 18 March 19, 2020 Kennedy, along with his Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen. Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[46]
John Wilkinson Georgia State Senate District 50 March 19, 2020 Wilkinson, along with his Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen. Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[47]
Larry Walker (Georgia) Georgia State Senate District 20 March 19, 2020 Walker, along with his Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen.Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[48]
Lee Anderson Georgia State Senate District 24 March 19, 2020 Anderson, along with his Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen. Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[49]
William Ligon Georgia State Senate District 3 March 19, 2020 Ligon self-quarantined for coronavirus after learning a fellow member of the Georgia Senate tested positive for the virus.[50]
Lindsey Tippins Georgia State Senate District 37 March 19, 2020 Tippins, along with his Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen. Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[51]
Valencia Seay Georgia State Senate District 34 March 19, 2020 Seay, along with her Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen. Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[52]
Marty Harbin Georgia State Senate District 16 March 19, 2020 Harbin, along with his Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen.Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[53]
Tyler Harper Georgia State Senate District 7 March 19, 2020 Harper, along with his Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen.Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[54]
Matt Brass Georgia State Senate District 28 March 19, 2020 Brass, along with his Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen. Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[55]
Tonya Anderson Georgia State Senate District 43 March 19, 2020 Anderson, along with her Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen. Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[56]
Michael A. Rhett Georgia State Senate District 33 March 19, 2020 Rhett, along with his Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen. Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[57]
Jeff Mullis Georgia State Senate District 53 March 19, 2020 Mullis, along with his Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen. Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[58]
Steve Henson Georgia State Senate District 41 March 19, 2020 Henson, along with his Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen. Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[59]
P.K. Martin Georgia State Senate District 9 March 19, 2020 Martin, along with his Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen.Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[60]
Renee Unterman Georgia State Senate District 45 March 19, 2020 Unterman announced a self-quarantine after a member of the Georgia State Senate tested positive for coronavirus.[61]
Steve Gooch Georgia State Senate District 51 March 19, 2020 Gooch, along with his Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen. Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[62]
Sally Harrell Georgia State Senate District 40 March 19, 2020 Harrell, along with her Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen. Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[63]
Nan Orrock Georgia State Senate District 36 March 19, 2020 Orrock, along with her Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen. Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[64]
Horacena Tate Georgia State Senate District 38 March 19, 2020 Tate, along with her Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen. Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[65]
Jack Hill Georgia State Senate District 4 March 19, 2020 Hill, along with his Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen.Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[66]
Dean Burke Georgia State Senate District 11 March 19, 2020 Burke, along with his Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen.Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[67]
Ben Watson Georgia State Senate District 1 March 19, 2020 Watson, along with his Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen.Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[68]
Bill Cowsert Georgia State Senate District 46 March 19, 2020 Cowsert, along with his Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen. Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[69]
Bill Heath Georgia State Senate District 31 March 19, 2020 Heath, along with his Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen. Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[70]
Blake Tillery Georgia State Senate District 19 March 19, 2020 Tillery, along with his Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen. Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[71]
Brian Strickland Georgia State Senate District 17 March 19, 2020 Strickland, along with his Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen.Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[72]
Burt Jones Georgia State Senate District 25 March 19, 2020 Jones, along with his Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen. Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[73]
Butch Miller Georgia State Senate District 49 March 19, 2020 Miller, along with his Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen. Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[74]
Carden Summers Georgia State Senate District 13 March 19, 2020 Summers, along with his Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen.Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[75]
Chuck Hufstetler Georgia State Senate District 52 March 19, 2020 Hufstetler, along with his Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen. Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[76]
Chuck Payne Georgia State Senate District 54 March 19, 2020 Payne, along with his Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen. Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[77]
Harold V. Jones II Georgia State Senate District 22 March 19, 2020 Jones, along with his Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen. Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[78]
Zahra Karinshak Georgia State Senate District 48 March 19, 2020 Karinshak, along with her Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen. Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[79]
Frank Ginn Georgia State Senate District 47 March 19, 2020 Ginn, along with his Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen. Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[80]
Gloria Butler Georgia State Senate District 55 March 19, 2020 Butler, along with her Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen. Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[81]
Ed Harbison Georgia State Senate District 15 March 19, 2020 Harbison, along with his Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen.Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[82]
Greg Dolezal Georgia State Senate District 27 March 19, 2020 Dolezal, along with his Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen. Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[83]
Elena Parent Georgia State Senate District 42 March 19, 2020 Parent, along with her Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen. Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[84]
Ellis Black Georgia State Senate District 8 March 19, 2020 Black, along with his Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen.Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[85]
Emanuel Jones Georgia State Senate District 10 March 19, 2020 Jones, along with his Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen. Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[86]
Donzella James Georgia State Senate District 35 March 19, 2020 James, along with his Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen. Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[87]
Gail Davenport Georgia State Senate District 44 March 19, 2020 Davenport, along with her Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen. Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[88]
Randy Robertson Georgia State Senate District 29 March 18, 2020 Robertson announced a two-week self-quarantine for coronavirus.[89]
Brandon Beach Georgia State Senate District 21 March 18, 2020 Beach announced that he had tested positive for coronavirus.[90]
Geoff Duncan Lieutenant Governor of Georgia March 18, 2020 Duncan announced a self-quarantine after a member of the Georgia State Senate tested positive for coronavirus.[91]
David Ralston Georgia House of Representatives District 7 March 16, 2020 A spokesperson for David Ralston confirmed on March 16, 2020, that he entered a self-quarantine for coronavirus.[92]
Keisha Lance Bottoms Mayor of Atlanta July 6, 2020 Bottoms announced on Twitter that she had tested positive for coronavirus but did not have symptoms.[93]
Freddie Sims Georgia State Senate District 12 January 15, 2021 Sims announced that she had tested positive for coronavirus.[94]
Mike Dugan Georgia State Senate District 30 January 12, 2021 Dugan announced that he had tested positive for coronavirus.[95]
Barry Loudermilk U.S. House Georgia District 11 December 15, 2020 Loudermilk announced that he had tested positive for coronavirus.[96]
Dexter Sharper Georgia House of Representatives District 177 December 10, 2020 Sharper tested positive for coronavirus.[97]
Nancy Stephenson Dougherty County Probate Court April 1, 2020 Stephenson died from complications caused by COVID-19.[98]

Paths to recovery by state

To read about other states’ responses and recoveries, click one of the links below:

Other state government responses

To view previous coverage areas, including changes to 2020 election dates and policies, initial stay-at-home orders, coronavirus-related legislation, and much more, click a state in the map below.

https://ballotpedia.org/Government_responses_to_and_political_effects_of_the_coronavirus_pandemic,_2020_(STATE)

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.

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Found on page 10 of the state's vaccine distribution plan.
  2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named GA426
  3. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named GA325
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Kemp orders public K-12 schools, colleges in Georgia closed through end of March," March 16, 2020
  5. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named GA315
  6. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named GA310
  7. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named GA36
  8. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named GA225
  9. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named GA222
  10. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named GA122
  11. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named KY1230
  12. ↑ Burbio rated Georgia's in-person index at 93.1. To read more about Burbio's school opening tracker, click here. To read more about Burbio's methodology, click here.
  13. ↑ Burbio, "Burbio's K-12 School Opening Tracker," accessed Oct. 6, 2021
  14. ↑ Burbio rated Georgia's in-person index between 40-60. To read more about Burbio's school opening tracker, click here. To read more about Burbio's methodology, click here.
  15. ↑ Burbio, "Burbio's K-12 School Opening Tracker," accessed Oct. 6, 2021
  16. ↑ Georgia Department of Education, "Georgia's K-12 Restart and Recovery," accessed July 20, 2020
  17. ↑ The Washington Post, "Georgia becomes first state to seek suspension of standardized tests in 2020-21 because of coronavirus," June 18, 2020
  18. ↑ WTXL, "Gov. Brian Kemp will sign shelter-in-place order, close all Georgia schools for rest school year," April 1, 2020
  19. ↑ WSAV, "Gov. Kemp extends public school closure into April," March 26, 2020
  20. ↑ The Washington Post, "Georgia governor allows local mask mandates, with limits," accessed August 25, 2020
  21. ↑ Supreme Court of Fulton County, "Kemp v. Bottoms: Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief," July 16, 2020
  22. ↑ Twitter, "Keisha Lance Bottoms: July 16, 2020: 6:29 PM," accessed July 21, 2020
  23. ↑ 11 Alive, "Judge recuses herself, hearing canceled in Kemp v. Bottoms Atlanta mask mandate lawsuit," July 21, 2020
  24. ↑ Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Kemp’s latest order allows local mask mandates for the first time," August 15, 2020
  25. ↑ Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Kemp drops lawsuit against Atlanta over mask mandate, coronavirus restrictions," August 13, 2020
  26. ↑ United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, "Brown v. Azar: Complaint," September 8, 2020
  27. ↑ Fulton County Superior Court, "Georgia Association of Educators v. Kemp: Civil Action," October 8, 2020
  28. ↑ 11 Alive, "Georgia teachers' association files suit against the state over school reopenings," October 8, 2020
  29. ↑ The Hill, "Georgia Republican Drew Ferguson tests positive for COVID-19," October 30, 2020
  30. ↑ The Hill, "Georgia GOP lawmaker tests positive for COVID-19," November 30, 2020
  31. ↑ The Hill', "Rep. Rick Allen tests positive for COVID-19," November 24, 2020
  32. ↑ 11 Alive, "Georgia State Senator David Lucas Sr. hospitalized with COVID-19," November 12, 2020
  33. ↑ NPR, "Meadows, Other Members Of Congress Self-Quarantine After CPAC Coronavirus Exposure," March 9, 2020
  34. ↑ AJC, "Georgia governor to self-quarantine after exposure to coronavirus," March 29, 2021
  35. ↑ Atlanta Business Journal, "Georgia State Representative tests positive for coronavirus," March 27, 2020
  36. ↑ AJC, "Fifth Georgia state senator tests positive for coronavirus," March 25, 2020
  37. ↑ Johns Creek Herald, "State Rep. Kausche presumed to have COVID-19," March 24, 2020
  38. ↑ CBS 46', "Georgia state representative tests positive for coronavirus," March 23, 2020
  39. ↑ CBS 46, "Senator Bruce A. Thompson (R-Ga.) tests positive for COVID-19," March 22, 2020
  40. ↑ Facebook, "Bruce A. Thompson on March 21, 2020," accessed March 21, 2020
  41. ↑ WGAU, "Athens Senators self-quarantine after COVID exposure," March 23, 2020
  42. ↑ ‘’WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340’’, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  43. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  44. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  45. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  46. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  47. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  48. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  49. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  50. ↑ AllOnGeorgia, "Senator Ligon in Self-Quarantine," March 19, 2020
  51. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  52. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  53. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  54. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  55. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  56. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  57. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  58. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  59. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  60. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  61. ↑ Twitter, "Greg Bluestein on March 18, 2020," accessed March 19, 2020
  62. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  63. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  64. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  65. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  66. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  67. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  68. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  69. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  70. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  71. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  72. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  73. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  74. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  75. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  76. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  77. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  78. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  79. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  80. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  81. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  82. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  83. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  84. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  85. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  86. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  87. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  88. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
  89. ↑ Facebook, "Jason Dennis WTVM," March 18, 2020
  90. ↑ 11Alive, "State senator's COVID-19 test comes back positive days after he attends special session," March 18, 2020
  91. ↑ Twitter, "Greg Bluestein on March 18, 2020," accessed March 19, 2020
  92. ↑ AJC, "Georgia representative self-quarantined because of coronavirus," March 16, 2020
  93. ↑ Retrieved from Twitter July 6, 2020
  94. ↑ WABE, "Georgia State Senator Says She Tests Positive For COVID-19," January 15, 2021
  95. ↑ Eastern Oregonian, "GOP leader in Georgia Senate tests positive for COVID-19," January 12, 2021
  96. ↑ AJC, "Barry Loudermilk is latest Georgia lawmaker to test positive for COVID-19," December 15, 2020
  97. ↑ Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Pain and protest: Two Georgia lawmakers confront COVID-19 in different ways," January 28, 2021
  98. ↑ The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Georgia judge dies of COVID-19 complications," April 3, 2020
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Political responses to the coronavirus pandemic, 2020-2021
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