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Gov. Kemp Holds April 27 Press Conference

Watch Gov. Kemp’s full press conference, which was held today, April 27. Here, he provided updates from the Coronavirus Task Force. In addition, the governor later shared on his official Twitter that, “Based on favorable data and stakeholder input, I have decided to allow restrictions on vacation rentals in Georgia to expire at 11:59 p.m. on April 30,” he wrote.

Read Gov. Kemp’s most recent executive order on food service establishments, bowling alleys and theaters and lifting restrictions on vacation rentals here.

The governor also announced the launch of a mobile COVID-19 testing initiative to set up drive-thru sites in communities without access to testing. Beginning today, April 27, the mobile unit will travel between Augusta (Hephzibah), Milledgeville and Tifton on a rotating basis. The site is supported by Walmart, eTrueNorth, and state and local officials. Read more about the program.

In order to help Georgia’s cities digest the various items in the Governor’s Executive Order “providing guidance for reviving a healthy Georgia in response to COVID-19,” GMA created a summary of the Executive Order, which highlights items important to municipal governments.

COVID-19 Guidelines Released for Meat & Poultry Processing Facilities

On April 26, CDC and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released targeted guidance to help meat and poultry processing facilities implement infection control practices to reduce the risk of transmission and illness from COVID-19 in these facilities.

DPH and CDC Announce COVID-19 Antibody Testing Activity

Today, April 27, The Georgia Department of Public Health, along with the Fulton County and DeKalb County Boards of Health are working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to learn more about the spread of COVID-19 in the community. This investigation will help the entities estimate the percentage of people in the community who have been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19.

From April 28 through May 4, teams will be visiting randomly selected homes in Fulton and DeKalb counties to ask residents questions about their health and to collect blood samples for an antibody test. Antibodies are proteins the body makes in response to infection. The antibody test can tell whether a person might have had a past infection with the virus that causes COVID-19. Learn more about the testing.

5 Ways Local Governments are Supporting Small Businesses During COVID-19

The impact of the outbreak on small businesses is particularly acute. Ninety-six percent of US small businesses report being impacted by the outbreak already with only 13% confident about their contingency plans to maintain their business. The National Restaurant Association expects total restaurant industry losses to exceed $225 billion and almost 60% of the jobs lost so far are those of restaurant workers. NLC recently published a report detailing five emerging municipal practices to keep small businesses operating. Read more.

WEBINARS: Register to Attend

Tuesday, April 28, 2:30 p.m.: COVID-19 & Georgia's Homeless Population: Impact and Solutions. Has COVID-19 impacted how your city and other community organizations deal with the homeless and unsheltered? This webinar will provide information on best practices, federal and state funding sources as well as the role of the local Continuum of Care and non-profit community to address the unique needs posed by COVID-19 on Georgia's homeless and unsheltered population. Please invite organizations assisting with the homeless in your community to also register for the webinar!
Thursday, April 30 2 p.m.: GMA’s Municipal Budget Forecasting and Impact Analysis in Uncertain Times. This webinar will include remarks from Georgia Department of Revenue Commissioner David Curry, as well as practical tips to assist cities with budget projections and impact assessment of revenue shortfalls in times of uncertainty or crisis and best practices in planning for pandemic-related impacts on city revenues, expenditures and service provisions.

GMA's Coronavirus Resource Center

Cities are encouraged to visit GMA’s regularly updated COVID-19 Resource Center for Municipal Leaders for pertinent resources including information on state and federal resources, funding opportunities, teleworking, municipal operations and more.

GMA’s resource center also includes a Public Employment Law FAQ Series based on the guidance and recommended practices from the CDC and the Georgia Department of Public Health.

Additional Resource:

Visit GMA's COVID-19 Resource Center

Coronavirus Hotline
1-844-442-2681

Contact GMA

GMA is here to help you! Please send all of your emails to gacities@gacities.com. We are regularly checking this email box.

GMA's Listservs

City managers, finance directors and clerks, remember to stay connected with each other through GMA’s convenient listservs. To join, email Becky Taylor at: btaylor@gacities.com.