With coronavirus circumstances surging throughout Georgia, Gov. Brian Kemp on Monday introduced plans to spend greater than $125 million so as to add workers and improve capability at hospitals.
Mr. Kemp, a Republican, shouldn’t be requiring state employees to be vaccinated, neither is he requiring that folks put on masks in public areas, indoors or in faculties to assist cease the unfold of the virus.
The governor’s announcement got here after the Georgia Division of Public Well being reported greater than 14,000 coronavirus circumstances over the weekend and as hospitalization charges continued to rise. Georgia is averaging greater than 5,700 new circumstances a day, its highest since February, and hospitalizations have risen to greater than 4,400 per day, in accordance with a New York Occasions database.
Mr. Kemp stated that funding would supply 1,500 staffers to hospitals at a second when medical facilities throughout the state are understaffed. The cash will even assist set up 450 new beds for Covid-19 sufferers at 9 regional hospitals. Moreover, Mr. Kemp introduced that state staff may have off Sept. 3, the Friday forward of Labor Day weekend, in an effort to encourage them to get vaccinated.
“I feel letting the colleges take care of that particular person scenario that they’ve is healthier than a one-size-fits-all, overarching coverage from the state or the federal authorities,” he stated.
Forty p.c of the inhabitants in Georgia is totally vaccinated, one of many lowest charges within the nation. Mr. Kemp urged Georgians to get vaccinated in opposition to the coronavirus.
“A very powerful factor for Georgians to do at this level, if you happen to’re not vaccinated, is to please discuss to your physician or medical skilled or somebody that you just belief that maybe has been vaccinated and make an excellent well being care determination for you and your loved ones,” Mr. Kemp stated.
