Coronavirus: Georgia reports no initial spike in cases after re-opening

Your support helps us to tell the story

Support Now

Find out moreClose

As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.

Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.

Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election

Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

Data has show no initial spike in coronavirus cases in Georgia despite the relaxation of the state's coronavirus measures and the re-opening of businesses.

Case trackers from The New York Times and website Axios that are monitoring increases in infections on a daily basis have continued to show a drop in numbers.

“We continue to see encouraging data as we fight #Covidin Georgia,” governor Brian Kemp said in a tweet on Wednesday.

“Today we have the lowest number of ventilators in use - 873 - and lowest number of Covid+ patients hospitalized - 1,094 - since hospitals began submitting data to Georgia EMA on 8 April," he wrote.

The state re-opened a number of non-essential businesses on 24 April as part of the state's coronavirus exit plan.

Gov Kemp allowed the state's gyms, bowling alleys, barbers and salons to resume operations as long as they adhere to social distancing requirements.

Restaurants, theatres and private social clubs were then permitted to open on 27 April, as long as they met the same standards. Restrictions on bars and nightclubs have been retained.

Before the opening, projections suggested that the state would not see the worst of the coronavirus until early May.

However, the statistics are yet to show that the relaxation of measures has had any immediate impact on the spread of the disease, but conclusions about the data are difficult to draw.

It could remain unclear for a number of weeks if the re-opening has caused a second spike due to a lag in identifying new cases, local counties not adopting statewide reopening moves and the continuing cautious behaviour of residents.

Health experts’ have continued to warn that reopening too quickly could cause another spike in cases.

Before the re-opening, the mayor of Atlanta, Georgia's biggest city, urged residents to stay at home despite the governor's order.

“I am using my voice to encourage people: Follow the data, look at the science, listen to the health care professionals and use your common sense. This virus has not gone away," mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said in an interview with MSNBC.

The state currently has over 35,000 confirmed cases of the virus and has sustained more than 1,500 deaths.