Lieutenant Governor of Georgia Geoff Duncan (R) on Friday encouraged all Georgia residents to wear a mask amid the coronavirus pandemic, days after Governor Brian Kemp (R) moved, preventing cities and local communities order residents to wear masks.
“My call here is for everyone in Georgia, everyone in the country, when you get out of your house, go put on a mask,” Duncan told CNN’s Alisyn Camerota on “New Day.”
“We are in the midst of a crisis,” he added, “and it will not go away.”
Kemp has also encouraged people to wear masks, but has argued that orders for people to wear masks are not enforceable and, as such, should not be issued.
Kemp and State Attorney General Chris Carr (R) sued Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) Thursday for ordering all Atlanta residents to wear masks while in public.
Kemp previously issued an executive order prohibiting local Georgia communities from issuing mask orders.
Lieutenant Governor of Georgia Geoff Duncan encourages everyone to wear a mask as Governor Brian Kemp sues Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms for the city’s mask mandate.
“My appeal here is to everyone in Georgia, everyone in the country, when you get out of your house, go put on a mask.” pic.twitter.com/7Zml4IDBhw
– New day (@NewDay) July 17, 2020
“This lawsuit is on behalf of Atlanta business owners and their hardworking employees who are struggling to survive during these difficult times,” Kemp tweeted.
This lawsuit is on behalf of Atlanta business owners and hardworking employees who are struggling to survive during these difficult times. (1/4) https://t.co/vxiOmteHaH
– Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) July 16, 2020
Kemp has been criticized for his executive order. Other governors of both parties have moved toward issuing requirements that people wear masks amid a growing number of COVID-19 cases.
Atlanta is not the only city in Georgia to pass a mask mandate in recent weeks.
Savannah Mayor Van Johnson (D) also issued a mask mandate and expressed dismay at Kemp’s lawsuit against Bottoms.
“It’s officially official. Governor Kemp doesn’t care about us,” he tweeted Wednesday night. “Every man and woman for himself. Ignore the science and survive as best you can.”
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