ATLANTA – Members of the Georgia House Democratic Caucus (GHDC) Subcommittee on COVID-19 recently submitted a letter to Governor Brian Kemp to urge an action plan against a new variant of COVID-19, which is reported to be a more contagious strain of the virus. The members of the subcommittee, which includes State Representatives Rhonda Burnough (D-Riverdale), Viola Davis (D-Stone Mountain), Shelly Hutchinson (D-Snellville), Donna McLeod (D-Lawrenceville), Sandra Scott (D-Rex) and Kim Schofield (D-Atlanta), request that Gov. Kemp reevaluate his current response plan regarding the spread of COVID-19 within the state of Georgia.
“In view of the recent confirmation of a new more transmissible coronavirus variant this week in California, Colorado, New York, Florida and Georgia, our state clearly needs to take drastic measures to protect the health and welfare of the public,” said Rep. Davis. “On behalf of our constituents, we respectfully request that our governor use his executive powers to help slow the spread of COVID-19 while the state works to vaccinate the public. We wish for everyone to stay strong, safe and healthy in the face of the ongoing global health crisis.”
In the GHDC subcommittee’s most recent letter, these legislators request that Gov. Kemp review the need for a shelter-in-place order or limit large gatherings in bars, clubs and restaurants. Additionally, this subcommittee requests the closure of schools for in-person instruction, mandate masks and implement a moratorium on evictions and cutoff of utilities for 2021.
The legislators believe an aggressive response by the governor would be justified for several reasons, such as the recent increase in COVID-19 cases in Georgia. The letter highlights that the state’s positivity rate was 19.4 percent when the governor first issued a shelter-in-place order on April 3, 2020. As such, the legislators believe the same course of action is necessary due to the recent positivity rates exceeding the rate from April 3, 2020. These Democratic legislators also seek increased action to combat the elevated rates of infection among children in Georgia, as well as curb the number of hospitalizations due to COVID-19.
*Editor’s Note: A copy of the letter to Governor Kemp is attached.
The GHDC Subcommittee on COVID-19 was formed in April 2020. It includes State Representatives Rhonda Burnough (D-Riverdale), Viola Davis (D-Stone Mountain), Shelly Hutchinson (D-Snellville), Donna McLeod (D-Lawrenceville), Sandra Scott (D-Rex) and Kim Schofield (D-Atlanta).
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