LOUISIANA. THAT IS THE CHARGE IN FRONT OF
US TODAY.
US TODAY.
US TODAY. >> WE ARE NOW BREAKING IN TO
BRING YOU A SPECIAL COVID-19
UPDATE FROM THE GEORGIA STATE
CAPITOL.
CAPITOL.
CAPITOL. THE GOVERNOR AND HIS TEAM ARE
SPEAKING AHEAD OF THE
THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY WHEN MORE
THAN A MILLION GEORGIANS ARE
EXPECTED TO TRAVEL.
LET'S LISTEN.
LET'S LISTEN. >> OUR INSURANCE AND FIRE
SAFETY COMMISSIONER JOHN KING
FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.
WITH THANKSGIVING JUST BEING
TWO DAYS AWAY, WE WANT TO
PROVIDE AN UPDATE TO THE PEOPLE
OF GEORGIA ON WHERE WE ARE IN
OUR FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19, BUT
ALSO REMIND THEM TO STAY
VIGILANT AS WE HEAD INTO NOT
ONLY THANKSGIVING, BUT THIS
HOLIDAY SEASON.
HOLIDAY SEASON. ON THE GOOD NEWS FRONT, THE
STATE CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN AN
AMPLE SUPPLY OF PPE THAT CAN BE
DEPLOYED AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE
TO SUPPORT OUR FRONT LINE
WORKERS AND HEALTH CARE
FACILITIES.
FACILITIES. AS OF YESTERDAY, WE CONTINUE TO
HAVE BETWEEN 45 DAYS AND TWO
MONTHS WORTH OF SUPPLIES IN
EACH OF OUR PRIMARY PPE
CATEGORIES, WHICH INCLUDES
MASKS, GOWNS, FACE SHIELDS,
GLOVES AND OTHER CRITICAL
SUPPLIES.
SUPPLIES.
SUPPLIES. WE HAVE SHIPPED NEARLY EIGHT
MILLION MASKS, OVER 2 87,000
GALLONS OF SANITIZING GEL, MORE
THAN 19,500 HAND SANITATION
STATIONS AND 52,000 FACE
SHIELDS TO OUR SCHOOLS TO
ENSURE A SAFER RETURN TO THE
CLASSROOM.
CLASSROOM. WE'RE ALSO PREPARED TO SUPPORT
OUR LOCAL PARTNERS IN THE
COMING MONTHS AS WE CONTINUE
OUR RESPONSE TO COVID-19.
IN RECENT WEEKS WE HAVE BEEN IN
CONSTANT CONTACT WITH HOSPITAL
CEO THROUGHOUT THE STATE TO
MAINTAIN AN OPEN LINE OF
COMMUNICATION TO HEAR WHAT
THEY'RE SEEING ON THE GROUND.
THE STATE CONTINUES TO KEEP
HOSPITAL AND LONG-TERM CARE
FACILITY STAFFING AS ONE OF ITS
TOP PRIORITIES IN RESPONDING TO
COVID AND WE CONTINUE TO WORK
WITH COMMISSIONER FRANK BARRY
AND THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY
HEALTH TO SHORE UP STAFFING
RESOURCES THROUGH THE END OF
THE CALENDAR YEAR TO SUPPORT
OUR HOSPITALS AS WELL AS OUR
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES.
BY THE END OF 2020, WE PLAN TO
ALLOCATE A TOTAL OF $250
MILLION TO STAFF AUGMENTATION
ALONE.
ALONE.
ALONE. THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONER, DR.
KATHLEEN TOOMEY, AND THE
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE
COMMISSIONER GENERAL JOHN KING
AND THEIR TEAMS HAVE BEEN
WORKING VERY HARD TO PUT
TOGETHER A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
FOR VACCINE DISTRIBUTION.
WE REMAIN ENCOURAGED AT RECENT
DEVELOPMENTS ON THE VACCINE
FRONT FROM PFIZER AND MODERNA
AND OUR TEAM HAS BEEN MEETING
REGULARLY FOR MONTHS TO ENSURE
THAT WE'RE PREPARED TO SHORE
AND SHIP THE VACCINE.
I WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO
COMMEND THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATION
WARP SPEED ON REALLY AN
INCREDIBLE WORK ON THE VACCINE
AND HOW THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
GET THIS VACCINE READY IN
HISTORIC AND RECORD TIME, AND I
KNOW THAT AMERICANS AND
GEORGIANS ARE READY FOR IT.
AND AS SOON AS THAT SUPPLY IS
READY TO BE SHIPPED, THE STATE
WILL BE READY TO DEPLOY A SAFE,
EFFECTIVE VACCINE.
EFFECTIVE VACCINE. WE'LL ALSO BE PROVIDING UPDATES
AND GREATER DETAIL ON OUR
VACCINE PLAN IN THE COMING
DAYS.
DAYS.
DAYS. HOWEVER, TODAY WE WANT TO FOCUS
ON THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY.
WE ALL KNOW AS THE WEATHER
CONTINUES TO TURN COLD, MORE
PEOPLE SPEND TIME INDOORS AND
WE HAVE SEEN A RISE IN GEORGIA
CASES IN RECENT WEEKS.
IN LIGHT OF THAT, WITH NOT ONLY
THANKSGIVING BUT CHRISTMAS,
HANUKKAH, THE NEW YEAR AND
OTHER HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS
RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, WE'RE
ASKING ALL GEORGIANS TO
CONTINUE TO DO A FEW SIMPLE
THINGS TO HELP LIMIT THE SPREAD
OF THE VIRUS.
THE FOUR THINGS FOR FALL THAT
WE HAVE TALKED A LOT ABOUT,
WEAR A MASK, PRACTICE SOCIAL
DISTANCING, CONTINUE TO WASH
YOUR HANDS, AND FOLLOW THE
GUIDANCE OF OUR PUBLIC HEALTH
OFFICIALS THAT WE HAVE OUTLINED
IN OUR EXECUTIVE ORDERS, AND I
KNOW THAT DR. TOOMEY WOULD BE
VERY UPSET IF I DIDN'T MENTION
THE FIFTH POINT AND THAT IS IF
YOU HAVE NOT DONE SO ALREADY,
GET YOUR FLU SHOT SO WE CAN DO
OUR PART TO PREVENT A TWIN
DEMIC.
DEMIC.
DEMIC. I
DEMIC. I KNOW LIKE YOU ARE LOOKING
FORWARD TO SPENDING TIME WITH
YOUR LOVED ONES OVER THE
HOLIDAYS.
HOLIDAYS.
HOLIDAYS. I AM, TOO.
BUT I WILL TELL YOU WE HAVE TO
CONTINUE TO REMAIN VIGILANT.
IF POSSIBLE, CONSIDER GATHERING
VIRTUALLY OR LIMITING YOUR
HOLIDAY GATHERINGS TO ONLY A
FEW PEOPLE WITHIN THE SAME
HOUSEHOLD.
HOUSEHOLD. IF WEATHER PERMITS, SEE IF YOU
CAN GATHER OUTSIDE TO REDUCE
THE RISK OF EXPOSURE INDOORS.
IF YOU'RE TRAVELING, TAKE EXTRA
STEPS TO SOCIALLY DISTANCE FROM
THOSE YOU DON'T REGULARLY SEE.
AND, PLEASE, IF YOUR LOVED ONES
ARE MORE VULNERABLE TO COVID-
19, ESPECIALLY THE ELDERLY AND
THOSE WITH UNDERLYING MEDICAL
CONDITIONS, CONSIDER THEIR RISK
OF INCLUDING THEM IN OUR
HOLIDAY GATHERINGS.
HOLIDAY GATHERINGS. AS I SAID OVER THE WEEKEND, OUR
FIGHT FOR COVID-19 HAS UPROOTED
MANY OF THE NORMS THAT WE'RE
USED TO, ESPECIALLY DURING THE
HOLIDAYS.
HOLIDAYS.
HOLIDAYS. I KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE
FRUSTRATED AND READY TO RETURN
TO NORMAL.
TO NORMAL. I AM AS WELL.
BUT WE CANNOT GROW WEARY.
WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR FOOT ON THE
GAS IN THIS FIGHT, AND AS WE
CELEBRATE THANKSGIVING ON
THURSDAY, I THINK WE ALL HAVE
PLENTY TO BE THANKFUL FOR.
PERSONALLY I'M THANKFUL FOR THE
HARD-WORKING GEORGIAN WHOSE
HAVE STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE IN
THE RECENT MONTHS TO FOLLOW THE
GUIDELINES, GET FOLKS BACK TO
WORK SAFELY.
WORK SAFELY. PARTNER UP WITH US AS WE FIGHT
EVERY DAY TO PROTECT LIVES, BUT
ALSO LIVELIHOODS.
ALSO LIVELIHOODS. I THINK ABOUT THE EDUCATORS WHO
HAVE ADAPTED TO A CHANGING
EDUCATIONAL LANDSCAPE TO
CONTINUE TEACHING OUR KIDS.
I'M THANKFUL ESPECIALLY FOR OUR
FRONT LINE HEROES, DOCTORS,
NURSES, PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS
AND OTHERS WHO HAVE GONE FAR
ABOVE THE TRADITIONAL CALL OF
DUTY WORKING LONG HOURS,
SPENDING PRECIOUS TIME AWAY
FROM THEIR FAMILIES, MANY OF
WHOM WILL BE AWAY FROM THEIR
FAMILIES ON THIS THURSDAY.
I HOPE THAT ALL GEORGIANS WILL
KEEP THEM IN THEIR THOUGHTS AND
PRAYERS AND WILL CONTINUE TO
STAY HEALTHY.
STAY HEALTHY. I'M ALSO THANKFUL FOR ALL OF
THOSE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, OUR
FIRST RESPONDERS AS WELL AS OUR
TROOPS, INCLUDING THE GEORGIA
NATIONAL GUARD.
NATIONAL GUARD. THEY HAVE CERTAINLY DEALT WITH
UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES AND
DEMANDS IN RECENT MONTHS, NEVER
ASKING FOR RECOGNITION OR
SPECIAL PRAISE AS THEY SERVE
AND PROTECT.
AND PROTECT. WE ALL OWE THEM OUR HEART FELT
GRATITUDE.
GRATITUDE. AS GOVERNOR I KNOW THAT WE'VE
GOT TO CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE
THE GOOD TIMES EVEN IN TOUGH
TIMES LIKE WE'RE IN NOW.
AND THROUGH THE PANDEMIC IT HAS
BROUGHT TREMENDOUS LOSS AND
UNCERTAINTY, BUT ALSO I BELIEVE
IT HAS SHOWN THE BEST IN OUR
STATE.
STATE.
STATE. SO
STATE. SO AS WE CELEBRATE THANKSGIVING
AND MOVE FORWARD IN THE THEYS,
WEEKS AND MONTHS TO FOLLOW,
LET'S CONTINUE TO HUNKER DOWN.
LET'S STAY VIGILANT AND RESOLVE
TO ACT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF
OUR FELLOW CITIZENS.
THIS HOLIDAY SEASON WILL NO
DOUBT LOOK DIFFERENT, BUT IF WE
WORK TOGETHER I'M CONFIDENT
THAT GEORGIA'S BEST DAYS AHEAD
ARE GOING TO BE SAFE, HEALTHY,
AND CONTINUE TO BE PROSPEROUS.
THANK YOU ALL, GOD BLESS.
GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR
FAMILIES.
FAMILIES.
FAMILIES. WE WISH YOU THE BEST FOR A
WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY.
AND WITH THAT I'M GOING TO TURN
IT OVER TO DR. TOOMEY FOR A
FEW REMARKS.
FEW REMARKS.
>>
>> THANK
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I JUST WANTED TO REINFORCE A
FEW THINGS THAT THE GOVERNOR
SAID.
SAID.
SAID. WE'RE COMING ON TO THIS HOLIDAY
SEASON, THANKSGIVING THIS WEEK,
AND WE HAVE SEEN EVERY TIME
WE'VE HAD A HOLIDAY THAT OUR
NUMBERS INCREASE.
NUMBERS INCREASE. RIGHT NOW IN GEORGIA WE ARE
STILL LOWER THAN IN OTHER
STATES, BUT WE HAVE STEADY UP
TICK IN CASES AND
HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS.
WE CAN STOP THAT IF EVERYONE
FOLLOWS THOSE GUIDELINES.
THOSE FOUR THINGS FOR FALL.
WEAR A MASK, SOCIAL DISTANCE,
WASH YOUR HANDS, FOLLOW THE
GUIDELINES, AND, OF COURSE, GET
A FLU SHOT.
IT IS NOT TOO LATE.
THE FACT THAT IT IS NOVEMBER
DOES NOT MEAN WE'RE OUT OF THE
FLU SEASON.
FLU SEASON. IN FACT, WE'RE JUST GOING TO BE
GEE BEGINNING THE FLU SEASON.
IT IS AS IMPORTANT NOW AS EVER
TO FOLLOW THOSE GUIDELINES.
I WANTED TO SAY THAT ONE OF THE
THINGS I THINK PEOPLE HAVE
THOUGHT ABOUT IS THAT THEY GO
GET A COVID-19 TEST NOW AND
THEY SAY, WELL, THEN, I CAN GO
AND BE WITH MY FAMILY AND NOT
WEAR A MASK, NOT SOCIAL
DISTANCE, NOT TAKE THE
PRECAUTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN
RECOMMENDED, INCLUDING ACTUALLY
THIS YEAR SITTING THIS OUT AND
TAKING THANKSGIVING VIA ZOOM
WITH YOUR FAMILY AT A DISTANCE.
IF YOU GET TESTED TODAY AND
YOU'RE NEGATIVE, IT DOES NOT
MEAN THAT YOU WILL NOT BE
POSITIVE IN A DAY OR TWO OR
THREE.
THREE.
THREE. AND SO IT IS PARTICULARLY
IMPORTANT THAT WE DON'T USE THE
COVID TEST AS A JUSTIFICATION
TO GO AND NOT FOLLOW THE
GUIDELINES.
GUIDELINES. IN THE BEST OF ALL
CIRCUMSTANCES, TRY TO STAY AWAY
FROM MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY
THAT AREN'T IMMEDIATELY LIVING
WITH YOU FOR THEIR OWN
PROTECTION AND YOUR OWN SAFETY
AS WELL.
AS WELL.
AS WELL. BUT IF YOU MUST GET TOGETHER,
AND I KNOW IT IS VERY HARD
BECAUSE THIS IS A TRADITION
THAT WE ALL VALUE SO MUCH,
PLEASE FOLLOW GUIDELINES,
SOCIALLY DISTANCE, EVEN WEAR A
MASK WITHIN YOUR FAMILY.
IF POSSIBLE, EAT OUTDOORS.
KEEP SILVERWARE SEPARATE, AND,
IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, TRY TO
SOCIALLY DISTANCE THROUGHOUT
YOUR VISIT.
YOUR VISIT. THIS IS THE ONE WAY WE CAN GET
THROUGH THIS THANKSGIVING
WITHOUT SEEING ADDITIONAL
CASES, AND WHAT I HOPE WILL BE
A HEALTHY, SAFE AND HAPPY
THANKSGIVING.
THANKSGIVING. AND SO JUST AS I CLOSE TO WISH
YOU ALL A VERY HEALTHY, HAPPY,
SAFE AND I HOPE ZOOMED
THANKSGIVING WITH YOUR FAMILY
MEMBERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.