Younger people, it is a huge issue. Announcer share your experiences dealing with the coronavirus pandemic and ask. Xperts your questions join our live conversation every morning on washington journal which starts at 7 00 and week nights at 8 00 p. M. Eastern for washington journal primetime. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp held a briefing yesterday in update on give an the states efforts to handle the coronavirus pandemic. He took questions on the states hospital Equipment Shortage and enforcement of the stay at home order. Good afternoon, everyone. I apologize were running a few minutes late. Being you so much for with us today. As usual, i have the Public Health commissioner, dr. Kathleen toomey, adjunct georgia tom carden, Emergency Management and Homeland Security director homer brison, all the people operating under the direction standing leaders behind me are truly remarkable. Including them. Theyve been working, as you imagine, long hours, with very little sleep. All those t to thank hardworking georgians, under their direction, that are commited to the health and citizens and our thank them for how hard theyre working as well. The best essed to have and brightest on the frontlines of this fight. Have noon today, we now 4638 cases in georgia, spanning 139 counties with 139 deaths due to the covid19. Our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to the families, loved ones and we have lost hat to this terrible virus. Lab has he state processed 2100 tests and commercial vendors have now process add little over 18,000. As many of you know, testing in georgia has increased rapidly er the last couple of weeks. But our capacity has been number of e to the reliable and available tests. Many of you here have reported, competition amongst states for access to commercial obviously at an alltime high. Important tool for identifying cases earlier, state ing hotspots in our with more resources, developing models and providing timely information to the public. These tests are vital to our frontline workers. Georgias doctors, nurses and respiratory therapists. Responders and Law Enforcement, as well as the medically fragile populations, including those living in longterm care facilities and the elderly. In short, tests define the battlefield. And help us develop a strategy to win this war. Was proud to announce plans to quickly and dramatically increase availability of testing for covid19 in our state. Proactive and timely initiative is leveraging Laboratory Resources under the University System of georgia, Public Health laboratory and Emery University to rapidly enhance surge a unique ul this is Publicprivate Partnership which was announced and set into motion yesterday. For us to start processing over 3,000 samples a day. As you know from the beginning, we have used data, science and of Health Care Professionals to determine our preparedness and relief efforts. These new testing numbers will better picture of covid19s impact on our state and continue to inform our rd. Isions as we move forwa i want to pause a moment and ty system of versi georgia, chancellor steve wrigley, dr. Toomey and their spective staff for their hard work on this important partnership. In ant to assure georgians every part of our state that expanding testing remains a top as well as r me those that are standing behind me today. Status quo that the is unacceptable and i certainly appreciate their innovation. We will continue to innovate and push so all georgians who for covid19 can do so in a safe and convenient way. Since forming the Coronavirus Task force in february, we have orders to several keep our families as well as our communities safe. In this fight together and i want to share once again flatten the infection curve in georgia. Must op the spread, we practice social distancing. To mitigate the risks, it is best that you stay home. For the most part, georgians are heeding this advice and i couldnt be more grateful for that. Especially in the metro area. As you can see, traffic has lessened dramatically. Have folks teleworking, attending church online, for ing takeout or delivery meals and postponing social events for the greater good. These are personal choices and they are not easy. Listen to eorgians the guidance provided and they w the orders issued, are actively joining the fight against this deadly disease. Hard work and georgians limit their travel, limit their and raction with others limit their activities, they are buying us more time to get additional hospital beds ready. Order supplies and continue to positive cases. All of us know that this fight is one at the Community Lab level, not at the State Capitol behind us. To win this war, we have to hunker down and continue to chop a lot of wood. I was really taken by the rus press s coronavi briefing yesterday and what dr. Say and she echoed these truths it will be the hard work of people in cities, towns and communities across our nation, following the advice of Health Care Experts and making change to their to fulfill a higher calling. And that is what were seeing in georgia. You know, our people are determined and they are resilient. Short of ccept nothing a victory over this virus. Know full well we have many challenges ahead of us but we have plenty of opportunities as well. I want to encourage my fellow georgians to hang in there. I know that youre tired of this. I know you want to return to business as usual. But we must first overcome the staob kls that we have in our h. T by doing this, we will get through this together. There is no question that these are unprecedented times and state officials are taking historic measures to meet the needs of the Health Care Providers, hospitals, patients and communities across our state. Teams at the National Operation center and stockpile warehouse the clock to round identify needs and strengthen the supply chain and ensure that we have a plan for any scenario. Morning, we have beds, 450 al surgical beds and 1006 ventilators available in our hospitals across the state. The taout for Health Metrics and evaluation of the university washington, georgia will reach peak Hospital Capacity on april 23rd. That is nearly three weeks from today. This model assumes that abide by continue to the states orders and use social distancing methods through the end of may. These numbers, as you know, are updated on a daily basis and we are continuing to monitor capacity. State officials, i can assure are working closely with georgia hospital associations, e ambulatory Surgery Centers to take a full inventory of beds and ventilators. We also are spotting trends to prepare for the days and weeks ahead. Far we have purchased four medical pods which are still shipping containers that have been converted to mobile units with beds as well as equipment. Each unit offers 20 to 24 beds a nursing station to treat patients as they arrive. Will be a be these stateowned asset that will be able to quickly to deploy to hardhit areas. We have submitted a request to these pods using military medical providers. To expand current bed capacity, have temporarily suspended certificate of need laws. Administrators are reconfiguring existing hospital wings orem barking on new construction to address the looming concern. Commissioner frank berry with the Georgia Department of Community Health is working with multiple Hospital Systems to reopen closed facilities for use. Want to take this opportunity shoutout for Phoebe Putney and Piedmont Health care for going above and beyond the call of duty. These stms have engaged the several reopen facilities and bring hospital prepare for as we the potential patient surge. Of you know, this is one of the hardest hit areas in our state. Date, we have shipped necessary supplies and planned the shipments based on needs of Phoebe Putneys system in the future. Public health of has deployed an Epidemiology Team in coordination with the Disease Control and prevention. We have also deployed two National Guard medic teams to this county. The twoguard units are assisting existing staff at phoebe and a nearby nursing home facility on everything administrative needs to medical treatment. As general carden will explain, these units are brandnew. They were created specifically for this purpose. That is an incredible testament carden and his team that they were able to identify, mobilize and successfully deploy these soldiers in such a short period of time. As reported, the state has worked closely with local Health Officials to establish phoebe d capacity at north and provide staffing and relieve t north to Phoebe Putney memorial hospital. We expect phoebe north to be as dy and treat patients early as next week, the first part of next week. Conversations al with scott steiner, the c. E. O. Phoebe putney multiple times over the last week as well and darden county commission chair, Lee County Commission chair, the mayor and many other local leaders. Continue to all do everything in our power to doherty county and surrounding communities have the resource and support that they desperately need in this crisis. As i mentioned a moment ago t georgia National Guard has identified new teams to replicate the units albany and doherty county in similar hotspots around our state. The georgia terday, guard announced another innovative way to stop the spread of coronavirus across our state. This virus is deadly, as you ow, but it is more dangerous a en left unchecked in longterm care facility. To assist the managers of these their ties to keep patients and residents safe, well activate over 100 deploy to any longterm care facility, assisted living facility or nursing home that has covid19 patients. Implement ps will infection protocols to dramatically reduce covid19 exposure amongst vulnerable residents. Going forward, i cannot of rstate the importance nursing home facilities and longterm care homes following e Public Health guidelines. Our task force is in regular communication with the Georgia HealthCare Association to make sure these facilities are receiving accurate, uptodate information from the department of Public Health and from the Disease Control and prevention. In the weeks to come t georgia National Guard units will have boots on the ground to assist and continue ons to ensure were protecting our most vulnerable citizens. As i previously mentioned on march 23rd, i issued an executive order banning more than 10 people unless they are at least each persons een at all times. And requiring medically fragile georgians to shelter in place through april 6, 2020. Ive signed several executive orders lifting restrictions on more doctors, nurses, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to work. Closing k12 schools through april 24th. Amount of g the Unemployment Benefits available to georgians facing financial hardship. Ive also authorized the state board of education to waive rules, regulations, policies, procedures and provisions to assist in the states response to covid19. The e also allowing realtime use or the use of realtime audiovisual chnology to assist in notarizing real estate documents. Actions related to future revenue, ive directed the commissioner of to implement waivers for conservation use, value land sment and Forest Protection act applications. Ive transferred additional pay for more ds to supplies and equipment and i continue to appreciate the of the General Assembly and speaker of the lieutenant for their support in emergency funding in the amended budget. All of those measures have for the weeks are ahead as we fight this pandemic facing our entire country. We are constantly reviewing the data, the modeling and the signs. Science. Director to thank brison for completing the isolation side of the Georgia Public Safety Training Center a very short period of time. We currently have five patients have a facility which Maximum Capacity of 40 individuals. Site of Hard Labor Creek state park, this facility are not atients that able to isolate themselves and have this inue to resource available for individuals that need it. Continue to fight this virus, our office is receiving and rts that are concerning deserve the publics immediate attention. By one area told atlanta hospital that they are in ing a 15 increase Domestic Violence cases at their facilities. This is disturbing and alarming and it cannot be tolerated. If you or someone you know needs help, i would ask you to call the georgia Domestic Violence hotline. Number is 18003342836. Georgia Domestic Violence hotline. We are also seeing a reduction of child abuse. Likely a consequence of our having as much facetime with georgia students. Teachers and administrators are to see the first ones the signs of abuse and now with we must remain vigilant about this problem and continue to work to remedy it. You are a child in crisis, needs w of someone who help, i would urge you to reach out to the Georgia Department and Children Services at 855gachild. Thats 8554224453. And finally, my office has and ived dozens of calls emails from many hardworking georgians out of work. Have had their hours cut back or Business Owners that, unfortunately, have had to close. And as someone that has spent my entire career in the private sector, i know the Economic Impact of this global pandemic. Georgians have to feed and clothe their families. Pay rent, to utilities and buy gas for their vehicles. Is that a y government check will only pay for so much and go so far. Hundreds of thousands of georgians are facing financial ruin because of this virus. As many of you know, i was a developer during great recession. Literally in those days we hour to hour, daytoday and week to week. I have will be there before, trying to support my family. It is a frightening thing, to say the least. So, for those waitresses who job, theyre a Small Business owner who doesnt know if theyll make the hourly s week or worker who barely made rent today, i hear you. I will aying for you and promise you we dont work hard every day for you. Want to thank commissioner mark butler. He has done a great job streamlining the unemployment benefit process and we are states ne of the first in the southeast to be approved expanded Small Business administration loans. We have also extended the state deadline to match the federal deadline and issue looking for workers hourly jobs to get through the next few weeks. We will continue to do whatever takes to help keep our a milies safe and ensure strong and prosperous future. These are difficult moments as and as a state. But these times, as you have the best in us. They remind us of the good that this great s in state and world which we live in. The many, many people in our Business Community who have stepped up their part to fight covid19. Georgias own home depot is millions of dollars in p. P. E. And other products. Prioritizing full philip orders to hospitals, Health Care Providers and first responders. Honeywell has a hub here in ramping up production of n95 masks from a new facility in rhode island and another one in arizona that will come online in may. Their e already doubled production of n95 masks and next 90 days theyll have five times the capacity to Critical Health care supplies. In local communities across the state, weve seen small Business Owners completely and rpose their staff production lines to make other materials that are in short supply. One is not far from here. In t. S. G. , resolute and americas georgia has partnered between partnership cocacola and georgia tech here in atlanta. Finding ways to masks e, to manufacture and shields for workers on the frontlines every day. Issued new ouse as federal guidelines and timeline for mitigating the spread of coronavirus. Public Health Officials are discouraging large gatherings, elderly and anyone with Underlying Health problems to stay at home, encouraging telework and keeping kids from school. Until april 31st. Georgias order reflected the guidance and direction for President Trump and his Coronavirus Task force. I have empowered numerous agencies and officials to enforce them. Natural gia domestic of resources will limit gatherings with officials patrolling excuse me, bodies of water as well as campgrounds. Are monitoring coves where