Georgia: Governor Removes COVID-19 Mandates for Businesses as Infections Surge

Under a recent executive order, businesses in the state of Georgia will not be required to follow any regional COVID-19 restrictions such as mask mandates or vaccination requirements, despite the state’s healthcare facilities being overburdened with COVID-19 patients. Governor Brian Kemp signed the order on Thursday preventing business owners from being forced to adhere to COVID-19 policies introduced by the local government. This measure was meant to protect recuperating businesses from another wave of shutdowns, according to the Republican governor. It will not stop firms from following local regulations, although he claims the rules will not be enforced.

Local authorities will not be allowed to impose business owners to comply with the state’s mask regulation, the vaccination policy, and any other restraint which could result in workers being fired, profits plummeting, and businesses having to close. In response to an increase in COVID-19 infections, numerous communities in Georgia have reinstated mask requirements. Atlanta enacted a rule regulating mask usage in public locations earlier this month. Decatur, which is close by, has enacted a similar ordinance, though firms can choose not to comply.

The city of Savannah has enacted a mask requirement for certain enclosed public venues, but not for business owners. As per experts at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, there is indeed a significant increase in the rate of infections of COVID-19 across districts in Georgia. The amount of vacant intensive care units in the region are becoming less available. Based on the most recent statistics from the US Department of Health and Human Services, Georgia’s ICU capacity stands at 94% occupied. The Gainesville facility of Northeast Georgia’s Health System is overloaded with COVID-19 cases. As people take up beds, local hospitals reported to ABC News on Thursday that medics have been examining certain patients requiring emergency treatment within their ambulances while waiting for a bed to become available. For an additional number of patients, the facility has put up tents beside the emergency unit.

According to hospital authorities, certain facilities in the Atlanta metropolitan area are using ambulances whenever their emergency units are fully occupied. Doctors from several of the state’s top medical centers have urged individuals to be vaccinated. As per various online sources, this factor is expected to create a huge demand for medical supplies and is expected to put stress on medical supply manufacturers.