ATLANTA – The Georgia House Democratic Caucus (GHDC) recently formed a subcommittee to monitor issues regarding the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, in Georgia. Through virtual legislative updates on the GHDC’s Facebook page, members of the caucus will continue to provide updates regarding COVID-19 information on weekdays at 5 p.m.
“With the easing of social distancing restrictions by the state due to COVID-19, the Georgia House Democratic Caucus is working with the CDC to stay informed so that Georgians can continue to protect themselves and their families,” said State Representative James Beverly (D-Macon), chairman of the House Minority Caucus.
The GHDC is also working to make constituents aware of the recent increase of pneumonia-related deaths across the state, which may be related to COVID-19. The GHDC studied data presented by the CDC and discovered that there was an increase in pneumonia-related deaths. According to the GHDC, pneumonia has been listed as the cause of death for an average of 491 people per year between the months of February through May for the past four years. During that same time period in 2020, 2,069 Georgians have died due to pneumonia.
“We find this discovery very disturbing and think that more investigations should be done to find out if Georgia could also be on the verge of a pneumonia pandemic,” explained members of the GHDC COVID-19 subcommittee.
The GHDC COVID-19 subcommittee members include Chairman Beverly, as well as State Representatives Debra Bazemore (D-South Fulton), Roger Bruce (D-Atlanta), Rhonda Burnough (D-Riverdale), Viola Davis (D-Stone Mountain), Shelly Hutchinson (D-Snellville), Donna McLeod (D-Lawrenceville), Mary Robichaux (D-Roswell), Sandra Scott (D-Rex), Kim Schofield (D-Atlanta) and Erica Thomas (D-Austell).
For more information on the GHDC’s daily legislative updates, please click here.
For more information, please contact Kimberly Romaine at (404) 656-0220 or kimberly.romaine@house.ga.gov.
Representative James Beverly represents the citizens of District 143, which includes portions of Bibb County. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2011 and currently serves as House Minority Caucus Chairman. He also serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and on the Ethics, Health & Human Services, Retirement, Rules, Small Business Development and Special Rules committees.
###