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COVID-19 pandemic in Georgia (U.S. state)
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==== Mask mandate conflict ==== Amidst a rise in cases in July 2020, a number of areas enacted mandates requiring the [[Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|wearing of face coverings]] in public spaces when social distancing is not possible, including Atlanta (whose mayor [[Keisha Lance Bottoms]] has been among Georgians who have tested positive; Bottoms also rolled back the city to Phase 1 guidance, discouraging dine-in restaurants).<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp Sued to Block Atlanta's Face Mask Ordinance. Here's What to Know|url=https://time.com/5868613/georgia-governor-brian-kemp-face-mask-atlanta-keisha-lance-bottoms/|access-date=2020-07-25|magazine=Time|archive-date=October 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009093443/https://time.com/5868613/georgia-governor-brian-kemp-face-mask-atlanta-keisha-lance-bottoms/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms tests positive for coronavirus|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/atlanta-mayor-keisha-lance-bottoms-test-positive-coronavirus/|access-date=2020-07-18|website=www.cbsnews.com|language=en-US|archive-date=January 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105150823/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/atlanta-mayor-keisha-lance-bottoms-test-positive-coronavirus/|url-status=live}}</ref> However, Governor Kemp declared such orders to be unenforceable as they are a stricter mitigation than those specified by the state. On July 15, Kemp signed an executive order overruling all mask mandates not issued by the state, and prohibiting any future mandate.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Klar|first=Rebecca|date=2020-07-15|title=Georgia governor overrides all local mask orders in the state|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/507600-georgia-governor-overrides-all-local-mask-orders-in-the-state|access-date=2020-07-16|website=TheHill|language=en|archive-date=October 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009093414/https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/507600-georgia-governor-overrides-all-local-mask-orders-in-the-state|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Bluestein|first=Greg|title=Kemp's office: Mask mandates in Georgia are 'unenforceable'|url=https://www.ajc.com/blog/politics/kemp-office-mask-mandates-georgia-are-unenforceable/IqZR7R53hjSS6aR3MRtmHM/|access-date=2020-07-16|website=Atlanta Journal-Constitution|language=en|archive-date=January 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105150753/https://www.ajc.com/blog/politics/kemp-office-mask-mandates-georgia-are-unenforceable/IqZR7R53hjSS6aR3MRtmHM/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Bluestein|first1=Greg|last2=Brasch|first2=Ben|title=A growing number of Georgia cities require masks over Kemp's objection|url=https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/growing-number-georgia-cities-require-masks-over-kemp-objection/rLK5RODzq1EVJiyebeIi2H/|access-date=2020-07-16|newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|language=en|archive-date=January 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105150741/https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/growing-number-georgia-cities-require-masks-over-kemp-objection/rLK5RODzq1EVJiyebeIi2H/|url-status=live}}</ref> Furthermore, Kemp filed a lawsuit against the city council of Atlanta and Mayor Bottoms, asserting that she "does not have the legal authority to modify, change or ignore Governor Kemp's executive orders". Bottoms criticized Kemp's action, saying that her order was enforceable and stands, and that "public health experts overwhelmingly agree that wearing a face covering helps slow the spread of this sometimes deadly virus".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp Sues Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms Over Face Mask Order|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/07/16/892109883/georgia-gov-brian-kemp-sues-atlanta-mayor-keisha-lance-bottoms-over-face-mask-or|access-date=2020-07-17|website=NPR.org|date=July 16, 2020 |language=en|archive-date=October 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009093433/https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/07/16/892109883/georgia-gov-brian-kemp-sues-atlanta-mayor-keisha-lance-bottoms-over-face-mask-or|url-status=live|last1=Romo |first1=Vanessa }}</ref> On August 13, Kemp abruptly dropped the suit, and announced the next day that localized mask mandates would be allowed if certain criteria are met.<ref name="ajc-reversal">{{Cite web|last=Bluestein|first=Greg|title=In reversal, Kemp's new order to let some cities impose mask mandates|url=https://www.ajc.com/politics/politics-blog/kemps-new-order-to-allow-some-cities-to-impose-mask-mandates/Z64MTLEXMVCEFEHESMUEG3BERI/v/|access-date=2020-08-19|website=Atlanta Journal-Constitution|language=en|archive-date=October 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008180357/https://www.ajc.com/politics/politics-blog/kemps-new-order-to-allow-some-cities-to-impose-mask-mandates/Z64MTLEXMVCEFEHESMUEG3BERI/v/|url-status=live}}</ref> On October 16, State Representative [[Vernon Jones]] expressed his opposition to mask mandates by [[Crowd surfing|crowdsurfing]] without a mask at a 7,000 person campaign rally for DonaldTrump in [[Macon, Georgia|Macon]]. Many rally attendees were also maskless, despite [[Bibb County, Georgia|Bibb County]]'s mask mandate.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Montgomery|first=Blake|date=2020-10-16|title=Georgia Politician Vernon Jones Crowdsurfs Sans Mask at Trump Rally|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/georgia-politician-vernon-jones-crowdsurfs-sans-mask-at-trump-rally|access-date=2020-10-25|website=The Daily Beast|language=en|archive-date=October 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019214110/https://www.thedailybeast.com/georgia-politician-vernon-jones-crowdsurfs-sans-mask-at-trump-rally|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Eason|first=Jenna|date=2020-10-23|title=Did Trump's Macon rally violate Kemp's executive order, Bibb County's mask mandate?|url=https://www.macon.com/news/politics-government/election/article246635618.html|access-date=2020-10-25|website=[[Macon Telegraph]]|archive-date=January 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105150837/https://www.macon.com/news/politics-government/election/article246635618.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In August 2021, Kemp signed a new executive order prohibiting local governments from enforcing mask and vaccination mandates.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Nussbaum|first=Katie|title=City of Savannah pulls permits amid COVID-19 surge; more restrictions possible|url=https://www.savannahnow.com/story/news/2021/08/24/city-savannah-announces-new-covid-19-restrictions-events-permits/5569843001/|access-date=2021-08-24|website=Savannah Morning News|language=en-US}}</ref>
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