Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp says some businesses ordered closed to mitigate coronavirus threats may begin reopening statewide Friday.
The Republican governor announced Monday that gyms, hair salons, bowling alleys and others will have to follow strict social distancing and hygiene requirements to remain open to the public.
Restaurants will be able to resume dine-in service on a limited basis and movie theaters will be allowed to reopen next Monday.
Bars, nightclubs and performance venues will remain closed.
Kemp said emergency room visits from people with flu-like symptoms are declining in Georgia, a sign that infections are down.
“In the same way that we carefully closed businesses and urged operations to end to mitigate the virus’s spread, today we’re announcing plans to incrementally and safely reopen sectors of our economy.” Kemp said,
In addition to calls from President Donald Trump, Kemp has heard scattered public calls in Georgia to lift restrictions.
Shane Hazel, a libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate, promoted a small protest Sunday at the Cherokee County courthouse in Canton. In video posted on his Facebook page, Hazel argued that the restrictions were an unconstitutional imposition and that officials had “overstepped.”
“My only care in this world is liberty and rights for every individual out there,” Hazel said.
Heath officials say Georgia’s death toll from COVID-19 has risen above 700 as new numbers were reported Monday. At least 733 deaths statewide have been linked to the virus, the Georgia Department of Public Health said. Infections have been confirmed in nearly 19,000 people.
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