Georgia Governor Brian Kemp (R) prohibits local municipalities across the state from requiring that masks be worn in public to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.
Kemp’s executive order issued Wednesday prevents local governments from enforcing mandatory coverage orders that are more restrictive than the current state order. The move effectively nullified orders issued by at least 15 local governments across the state, according to The Associated Press.
Rather than imposing a mandatory requirement, the Kemp order states that residents and visitors to the state are “strongly encouraged to wear face covers as possible” when they are in public, except when they eat, drink, or exercise outdoors. free.
Candice Broce, the governor’s spokesperson, doubled down on the governor’s position that local orders are “unenforceable.”
“Previous executive orders, and now this order, state that no local action can be more or less restrictive than ours. We have explained that local mask mandates cannot be enforced. The Governor continues to strongly encourage Georgians to wear masks in public, ”Broce tweeted.
Previous executive orders, and now this order, state that no local action can be more or less restrictive than ours. We have explained that local mask mandates cannot be enforced. The Governor continues to strongly encourage Georgians to wear masks in public. https://t.co/MpxkPUkmBL
– Candice Broce (@candicebroce) July 16, 2020
Kemp’s order preventing local orders comes as more governors are implementing mandatory state-wide facial coverage requirements as the number of coronavirus cases continues to rise across much of the U.S.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) announced such a mandatory order Wednesday, citing a 50 percent increase in new COVID-19 cases.
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