WITH
WITH THE
WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE AND FULTON COUNTY
COMMISSION CHAIR ROB PITTS.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, IN THE PAST
FEW WEEKS, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING
AROUND THE CLOCK TO ADDRESS THE
IMPACT OF CORONAVIRUS IN
GEORGIA, MAKING PLANS FOR THE
FUTURE, AND GETTING TIMELY
UPDATES TO THE PUBLIC.
I CAN ASSURE YOU WE WILL
CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
WE APPRECIATE EVERYONE WHO IS
HEEDING THE GUIDANCE OF
FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL
OFFICIALS.
OFFICIALS. BEFORE I GET INTO SPECIFIC
UPDATES, I WANT TO START OFF
WITH THIS.
WITH THIS. ALL OF YOU HAVE SEEN WE ARE
STARTING TO HAVE LARGE EVENT
CANCELLATIONS AND SCHOOL
CLOSURES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AS A RESULT, WE ARE HEARING
FROM PEOPLE IN EVERY REGION OF
GEORGIA ASKING US FOR ADVICE.
IN MANY WAYS OUR MESSAGE
CONTINUES TO STAY THE SAME.
WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK PEOPLE TO
CONTINUE TO FOLLOW BEST
PRACTICES OF YOUR HELP WITH
REGULAR HAND WASHING, AVOIDING
LARGE EVENTS IF YOU ARE SICK,
AND LET ME REMIND EVERYONE THAT
THIS INFORMATION CONTINUES TO
BE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE CDC
AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
HERE IS WHERE OUR MESSAGE IS
CHANGING.
CHANGING.
CHANGING. ELDERLY GEORGIANS AND THOSE
WITH CHRONIC UNDERLYING HEALTH
CONDITIONS FACE A MUCH HIGHER
RISK OF ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES
FROM EXPOSURE TO CORONAVIRUS.
WE MUST TAKE EXTRA CARE AROUND
ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS, PEOPLE
WITH ONGOING HEALTH ISSUES, AND
THOSE WHO HAVE A SUPPRESSED
IMMUNE SYSTEM.
IMMUNE SYSTEM. WE NEED TO HELP THEN
DRAMATICALLY LIMIT THEIR
EXPOSURE TO THE PUBLIC FOR THE
FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
FORESEEABLE FUTURE. HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE NOT NOW
TELLING US THAT THESE
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS NEED TO
AVOID MASS GATHERINGS IN
LOCATIONS WITH HIGH TRAFFIC
COUNTS OF PEOPLE, EVEN FAITH-
BASED SERVICES OR EVENTS.
I HAVE ALREADY HAD THIS
CONVERSATION WITH MY MOTHER TO
KEEP HER SAFE AND PLAN HOW WE
CAN GET HOW SHE NEEDS IN THE
WEEK AHEAD.
WEEK AHEAD. WE CANNOT BE TOO CAUTIOUS IN
THIS AREA AND I WOULD URGE YOU
ALL TO DO THE SAME.
STARTING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, I
AM CALLING ON ALL FAMILIES
ACROSS GEORGIA TO GET TOGETHER
AND TALK ABOUT HOW THEY'RE
GOING TO PROTECT THEIR
GRANDPARENTS, HOW THEY'RE GOING
TO PROTECT THEIR LOVED ONES
WITH HEALTH CONDITIONS AND HOW
THEY WILL COME UP WITH A GAME
PLAN FOR GETTING THEM WHAT THEY
NEED, GROCERIES, PRESCRIPTIONS,
AND OTHER NECESSARY SUPPLIES.
LAST NIGHT, WE ANNOUNCED THAT
THERE WERE 31 CONFIRMED AND
PRESUMED POSITIVE CASES OF
COVID-19 IN 12 COUNTIES
THROUGHOUT OUR STATE.
TODAY IT IS WITH GREAT SADNESS
THAT WE HAVE TO REPORT THE
STATE'S FIRST PATIENT DEATH
FROM COVID-19.
FROM COVID-19. THE INDIVIDUAL, A 67-YEAR-OLD
MALE, WAS HOSPITALIZED AT
WELLSTAR KENNESTONE SINCE
TESTING POSITIVE FOR COVID-19
ON MARCH 7. IN ADDITION TO
BEING INFECTED WITH
CORONAVIRUS, THIS INDIVIDUAL
HAD AN UNDERLYING MEDICAL
CONDITION.
CONDITION. MARTY, THE GIRLS, AND I ARE
CONTINUING TO BE IN PRAYER FOR
THIS INDIVIDUAL AND HIS OR HER
LOVED ONES DURING THIS
INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TIME.
I KNOW THAT THE MEDICAL
PROFESSIONALS ON SITE DID
EVERYTHING THEY COULD AND I
GREATLY APPRECIATE THEIR
EFFORTS.
EFFORTS.
EFFORTS. OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO HIS LOVED
ONES, FRIENDS, AND THE
COMMUNITY.
COMMUNITY. WE ALSO CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR
THE SAFETY OF THE HEALTHCARE
PROVIDERS ACROSS THE STATE WHO
ARE WORKING HARD ON PATIENT
CARE.
CARE.
CARE. OUT
CARE. OUT OF THE NEW CONFIRMED CASES,
ONE INDIVIDUAL IS A RESIDENT OF
LEE COUNTY AND IS HOSPITALIZED.
THE SOURCE OF THE INFECTION IS
UNKNOWN.
UNKNOWN.
UNKNOWN. ONE INDIVIDUAL IS A RESIDENT OF
THE COBB COUNTY AND IS
HOSPITALIZED.
HOSPITALIZED. THE INDIVIDUAL HAS A HISTORY OF
TRAVEL OUTSIDE THE UNITED
STATES.
STATES.
STATES. ONE INDIVIDUAL IS FROM FLOYD
COUNTY AND IS ALSO
HOSPITALIZED.
HOSPITALIZED. THE SOURCE OF THE INFECTION IS
UNKNOWN.
UNKNOWN.
UNKNOWN. THREE OF THE NEWLY CONFIRMED
CASES OF COVID-19 ARE RESIDENTS
OF BARTOW COUNTY.
TWO OF THIS INDIVIDUALS ARE
HOSPITALIZED AND THE SOURCES OF
INFECTION ARE UNKNOWN AT THIS
TIME.
TIME.
TIME. BASED ON OUR INITIAL
INVESTIGATION, IT SEEMS THAT
THESE CASES MAY HAVE HAD A
CONNECTION TO A LOCAL CHURCH IN
THE BARTOW COUNTY AREA.
THE THIRD INDIVIDUAL IS NOT
HOSPITALIZED AND WHILE THE
SOURCE OF THE INFECTION IS
UNKNOWN, THIS INDIVIDUAL DOES
SHARE A CONNECTION WITH THE
INDIVIDUAL FROM FLOYD COUNTY
THAT HAS BEEN MENTIONED
PREVIOUSLY.
PREVIOUSLY. THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC HEALTH IS ALSO AWAITING
CONFIRMATORY TESTING FROM THE
CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND
PREVENTION ON THREE NEW
PRESUMED POSITIVE CASES OF
COVID-19.
COVID-19.
COVID-19. TWO INDIVIDUALS ARE FROM DeKALB
COUNTY.
COUNTY.
COUNTY. BOTH ARE HOSPITALIZED.
THE SOURCE OF THEIR INFECTION
IS UNKNOWN.
IS UNKNOWN. THERE IS NO CONNECTION BETWEEN
THESE TWO CASES.
THE OTHER TWO PRESUMED POSITIVE
CASES INVOLVE A RESIDENT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY AND THAT
INDIVIDUAL IS HOSPITALIZED.
THE SOURCE OF THE INFECTION IS
UNKNOWN.
UNKNOWN.
UNKNOWN. AS THE NUMBER OF CASES CONTINUE
TO GROW, WE CONTINUE TO CLOSELY
COMMUNICATE WITH OUR K-12 AND
HIGHER EDUCATION COMMUNITIES TO
ENSURE TIMELY DECISION-MAKING
FOR FAMILIES AS WELL AS THE
STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED.
STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED. THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION, UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GEORGIA, TECHNICAL COLLEGE
SYSTEM, AND LOCAL SCHOOL
LEADERS HAVE BEEN INVALUABLE
PARTNERS TO DETERMINE THE BEST
MEASURES TO PROTECT STUDENTS,
TEACHERS, AND ADMINISTRATORS.
FOR LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS, WE
HAVE ALREADY SEEN LIMITED
CLOSURES INTO SPECIFIC AREAS TO
DEAL WITH THE RECENT CASES OF
CORONAVIRUS.
CORONAVIRUS. WE KNOW THAT SCHOOL CLOSURES
HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT ON OUR
GEORGIA FAMILIES.
GEORGIA FAMILIES. GIVEN THE RISE OF CORONAVIRUS
CASES ALONG WITH THE PUSH FOR
MORE SCHOOL CLOSURES, I AM
GOING TO ISSUE A CALL TO ACTION
FOR COMMUNITY LEADERS,
EDUCATIONAL LEADERS, AND
CHILDCARE PROVIDERS ACROSS OUR
STATE.
STATE.
STATE. IF
STATE. IF YOU FEEL THAT IT IS PRUDENT,
YOU SHOULD CONSIDER CLOSING
DAYCARES, SCHOOLS, OR SCHOOL
DISTRICTS AS EARLY AS TOMORROW
THROUGH THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.
IN ADDITION, COUNTY AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS SHOULD CONSIDER
WHAT CLOSURES MIGHT BE
APPROPRIATE THAT DO NOT AFFECT
ESSENTIAL SERVICES.
ESSENTIAL SERVICES. I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THIS
IS NOT A MANDATE.
AT THIS POINT WE BELIEVE THAT
LOCAL DECISION-MAKING IS THE
RIGHT COURSE OF ACTION AND THAT
YOU HAVE THE FLEX ABILITY.
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU STAY
OPEN OR DECIDE TO CLOSE, WE
WILL SUPPORT THAT DECISION.
AT THIS TIME, I AM NOT SHUTTING
DOWN STATE GOVERNMENT OR THE
GEORGIA STATE CAPITAL.
HOWEVER, I AM SUSPENDING
NONESSENTIAL TRAVEL AND
IMPLEMENTING TELEWORK POLICIES
FOR EMPLOYEES BECAUSE IT IS THE
RIGHT THING TO DO.
THIS ARRANGEMENT WILL REVENGE
SUBSTANTIAL DISRUPTION OF
SERVICES TO OUR CONSTITUENTS
BUT ALSO HELP MITIGATE RISK.
WE WILL BE SENDING OUT GUIDANCE
TO ALL AGENCY LEADERS SHORTLY
AFTER THIS PRESS CONFERENCE TO
ENSURE THEY HAVE THE RIGHT PLAN
IN PLACE FOR IMPLEMENTATION.
WE WILL ISSUE DIRECTIVES TO THE
DEPARTMENTS OF BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL
DISABILITIES, JUVENILE JUSTICE,
AND VETERANS SERVICES REGARDING
VISITATION.
VISITATION. THAT IS UNTIL APRIL 10, 2020.
DEPARTMENT FACILITIES WILL
COMPLETELY SUSPEND VISITATION
EXCEPT FOR NEXT OF KIN AND END-
OF-LIFE SITUATIONS.
OF-LIFE SITUATIONS. THIS DECISION, AS YOU CAN
IMAGINE, WAS NOT MADE LIGHTLY
BUT WE MUST DO WHAT WE NEED TO
DO TO KEEP OUR PEOPLE SAFE.
THESE POPULATIONS ARE IN CLOSE
CONTACT, SOME WITH UNDERLYING
HEALTH CONDITIONS THAT IF
EXPOSED TO CORONAVIRUS COULD
RESULT IN A SERIOUS MEDICAL
PROBLEM OR CAUSE WIDESPREAD
INFECTION.
INFECTION. YESTERDAY I SENT A LETTER TO
SPEAKER DAVID ROTH AND
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JEFF DUNCAN
WHO ARE STANDING WITH ME TODAY
TO REQUEST $100 MILLION IN THE
REVENUE SHORTFALL RESERVES TO
ADDRESS THE SPREAD OF COVID-19.
ENSURING GEORGIA HAS THE
RESOURCES AT HAND TO ENABLE US
TO QUICKLY AND THOROUGHLY
PREVENT THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS
WITHIN OUR BORDERS WHICH IS
CRITICAL TO KEEPING OUR
CITIZENS SAFE, MAINTAINING OUR
HEALTH NETWORK, AND MITIGATING
NEGATIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT.
I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MUCH I
APPRECIATE THEIR SOLID SUPPORT
AND LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE.
WITH THEIR HELP, WE WILL HAVE
MORE TOOLS AVAILABLE TO ADDRESS
OUR HEALTH NEEDS IN THE WEEKS
AHEAD.
AHEAD.
AHEAD. GIVEN THE QUICK RISE OF CASES
ACROSS OUR STATE, IT IS
NECESSARY TO EXPAND THE TASK
FORCE REACH AND BUILD WORKING
COMMITTEES FOR DETAILED
BRIEFINGS AND ANALYSIS.
TODAY I AM ANNOUNCING THE
CREATION OF SEVERAL NEW WORKING
COMMITTEES TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
COVERING ALL OF OUR BASES FOR
CORONAVIRUS HERE IN OUR STATE.
FIRST, I AM CREATING THE
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS COMMITTEE WHICH WILL BE CHAIRED
BY GENERAL JOHN SHEEN, OUR
STATE'S INSURANCE COMMISSION
WITH THE MISSION OF ANALYZING
THE AVAILABILITY OF NECESSARY
SUPPLIES AND EVALUATING ALL
LOGISTICAL NEEDS THAT WE MAY
HAVE.
HAVE.
HAVE. THEIR JOB IS TO CONTINUE
THINKING AHEAD AS WE HAVE ALL
BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST SEVERAL
WEEKS BUT ALSO LAYING THE
GROUNDWORK FOR SUPPLY-CHAIN
NEEDS AND DEMAND FOR CRITICAL
SERVICES INCLUDING THINGS THAT
MAY NOT BE ON OUR RADAR AT THIS
MOMENT.
MOMENT.
MOMENT. I
MOMENT. I ALSO WILL BE CREATING AN
ECONOMIC IMPACT COMMITTEE.
IT WILL BE CHAIRED BY OUR STATE
OF COMMERCE JEFF DORFMAN TO
WORK WITH ACADEMIA, BUSINESS
LEADERS, AND LAWMAKERS ON
DETERMINING BOTH THE SHORT AND
LONG-TERM IMPACTS OF THIS VIRUS
ON ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL
SECTOR IS.
SECTOR IS. I HAVE ASKED LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR DUNCAN AND THE SPEAKER
OR THEIR DESIGNEES TO SERVE ON
THIS COMMITTEE WITH US.
I AM ALSO CREATING A PRIMARY
CARE PHYSICIANS COMMITTEE TO BE
CHAIRED BY DR. BEN WATSON TO
MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS FOR OUR
HEALTH NETWORK AND TO HAVE AN
OPEN, CONSISTENT LINE OF
COMMUNICATION.
COMMUNICATION. WE NEED TO HEAR FROM AND
COORDINATE WITH MEDICAL EXPERTS
WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH PROVIDING
FRONTLINE MEDICAL CARE.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, REP RESENTED
TIM WATSON IS A VETERAN IN THIS
FIELD AND HIS COMMITTEE'S WORK
WILL BE CRITICAL IN THE DAYS
AND WEEKS AHEAD.
WE WILL ALSO BE ASKING OTHER
LAWMAKERS WHO ARE PHYSICIANS TO
SERVE ON THIS IMPORTANT
COMMITTEE.
COMMITTEE. LASTLY, I AM CREATING A
COMMITTEE TO ADVOCATE FOR AN
ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE PART OF
OUR STATE'S POPULATION, OUR
HOMELESS COMMUNITY.
HOMELESS COMMUNITY. THE COMMITTEE FOR THE HOMELESS
AND DISPLACED WILL BE CHAIRED
BY ATLANTA MAYOR WHO CERTAINLY
UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF
THIS FIGHT AND KNOWS WHAT WE
NEED TO DO TO ENSURE ADEQUATE
SHELTER, RESOURCES, AND CARE
FOR THESE GEORGIANS.
IN THE DAYS AHEAD, WE WILL
ANNOUNCE THE FULL COMMITTEE
MEMBER LISTS AND I AM LOOKING
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM AS
WE CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THE
HEALTH CHALLENGE THAT OUR STATE
AND FAMILIES ARE FACING.
BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO MY
COUNTERPARTS, I WOULD LIKE TO
LEAVE EVERYONE WITH A FEW
IMPORTANT POINTS.
IMPORTANT POINTS. TO ADDRESS WE ARE WORLD
PROBLEMS LIKE WE ARE FACING
TODAY THESE ARE NON-CRITICAL
STABILIZED PATIENTS WHO DO NOT
HAVE A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE FOR
SHELTER.
SHELTER.
SHELTER. I WILL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
IMAGINE A FAMILY WITH AN INFANT
AND ONE PARENT WHO IS SICK WITH
COVID-19.
COVID-19.
COVID-19. THE PARENT WHO IS SICK CANNOT
GO HOME BECAUSE THEY ARE AT
RISK OF INFECTING THE INFANT'S
ONLY OTHER CAREGIVER.
NEITHER OF THOSE SCENARIOS IS
ACCEPTABLE.
ACCEPTABLE. WE WILL CONTINUE TO USE HARD
LABOR BECAUSE QUITE HONESTLY,
SOME PEOPLE HAVE NO OTHER
CHOICE.
CHOICE.
CHOICE. IF YOUR DOCTOR OR MEDICAL
PROVIDER HAS RECOMMENDED
ISOLATION OR QUARANTINE, IT IS
CRITICAL FOR YOU TO FOLLOW THAT
ADVICE TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF
THIS VIRUS.
THIS VIRUS. IF YOU IGNORE YOUR MEDICAL
VICE, YOU ARE ENDANGERING LIVES
IN OUR STATE.
IT IS SIMPLY NOT WORTH IT.
PLEASE, I BEG YOU TO PLEASE DO
AS WE ARE ASKING YOU TO DO.
I WANT TO THANK PRESIDENT
DONALD TRUMP AND VICE PRESIDENT
MIKE PENCE FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP
ON FIGHTING THIS ACROSS OUR
COUNTRY.
COUNTRY.
COUNTRY. THEY HAVE EMPOWERED STATE AND
LOCAL LEADERS TO TAKE NECESSARY
ACTION TO KEEP OUR FAMILIES
SAFE AND THEY HAVE BEEN
INCREDIBLY ACCESSIBLE AS THEY
CONTINUE TO OFFER THEIR
ASSISTANCE.
ASSISTANCE. THEY HAVE ALSO HEED OUR ADVICE.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO IS
STANDING HERE WITH ME TODAY.
THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN
PUTTING IN SOME VERY LONG HOURS
AND OPERATING WITH VERY LITTLE
SLEEP BUT YOU WOULD NEVER KNOW
IT.
IT.
IT. I
IT. I AM
IT. I AM GRATEFUL TO THIS TEAM.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO IS
WATCHING OR LISTENING AND WHO
MAY BE SICK WITH COVID-19 AND
HAVE THEM REALIZE THAT WE ARE
DEALING WITH YOUR FELLOW
GEORGIANS IN THIS CRISIS.
WE MUST CONTINUE AS WE ARE HERE
TODAY TO BE UNITED.
THEY NEED OUR SUPPORT.
WE WILL