ATLANTA – State Representative Demetrius Douglas (D–Stockbridge), along with members of the Georgia General Assembly, recently convened for a special legislative session to ratify Governor Brian Kemp’s proclamation of a public health state of emergency in Georgia on Monday, March 16, 2020.
“I want to commend my colleagues in the Georgia House of Representatives for coming together and providing bipartisan support to ratify this historic executive order,” said Rep. Douglas. “The public health state of emergency will expand our governor and state agencies’ ability to provide the necessary resources that our communities in Clayton and Henry counties need as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise in our state.”
On Saturday, March 14, Gov. Kemp declared a public health state of emergency to allow the state to further address the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Georgia. In consultation with the Georgia Commissioner of Public Health, the Georgia Coronavirus Task Force and other state health and emergency preparedness officials, Gov. Kemp determined a public health emergency exists in the state and that it is necessary to take action to protect the health, safety and welfare of Georgia’s residents. Gov. Kemp officially declared the public health state of emergency after President Donald Trump signed a national emergency declaration for the U.S.
The General Assembly adopted a joint resolution, House Resolution 4EX, to concur with the governor’s executive order and ratify the public health state of emergency. The public health state of emergency will allow all of the state’s resources to be made available for the mitigation and treatment of COVID-19. The governor’s emergency executive order will allow the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) to direct specific health care action in extraordinary circumstances, suspends restrictions on hours of commercial vehicle operation and vehicle height, weight and length thresholds to assist in preparation and response efforts and authorizes the Georgia Composite Medical Board and Georgia Board of Nursing to grant temporary licenses to applicants who are in good standing in other states to assist in addressing health care needs. Additionally, the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency will be the lead agency for responding to this public health emergency and will coordinate all emergency response activities. Gov. Kemp will also have the ability to compel a health care facility to provide services or the use of its facility if such services or use are reasonable and necessary for emergency response, as well as implement a mandatory vaccination or quarantine program.
For more information about the governor’s declaration of a public health state of emergency, please click here.
For more information about COVID-19, please click here.
Representative Demetrius Douglas represents the citizens of District 78, which includes portions of Clayton and Henry counties. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2012 and currently serves on the Banks & Banking, Health & Human Services, Intragovernmental Coordination and Motor Vehicles committees.
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