[captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2020] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] gov. Kemp good afternoon, everyone. Joined with Lieutenant Governor jeff duncan, toomey. Tom cardin, dr. First of all i want to let all know whoians experienced rough weather last night that we have them and our thoughts and prayers. Certainly was not nearly as bad as the weekend before, but nevertheless we had folks who othermes damaged and tragic things happen along with loss of power. We will certainly keep them and our thoughts and prayers and certainly appreciate the whole georgia team working with response overnight and this morning. As of noon today, we now have 18,947 covid19 cases in georgia, with 733 deaths. The state lab has processed 5362 tests and commercial vendors have processed 78,966 tests. We understand that these are more than just numbers. These are georgians that we are talking about. There are families and communities impacted, and certainly all the victims and their loved ones continue to be in our thoughts and prayers. Areift all those up who battling this terrible virus. We remain focused on the safety and wellbeing of every person who calls georgia home. Last week the white house issued guidelines for it states to begin safely reopening our nations economy. We appreciate the leadership and share in the president s desire to reopen the economy and get americans back to work. As a Small Business owner for over 30 years, i know the impact that this pandemic has had on hardworking georgians in every zip code and in every Community Across our state. With tightened supply and our farmersnd, continued to struggle to keep employees on the payroll. Owners, theyness are seeing sales plummet, and the company they built withi the with the blood, sweat, and tears is literally disappearing in front of them. Our contract workers are struggling to put food on the table. Asge businesses, which serve anchors in many georgia towns, are scaling back operation, leaving some with reduced hours and some with no jobs. These are tough moments in our state and our nation. I hear the concerns of those im honored to serve. F see the terrible impact o covid19 on Public Health as well as the pocketbooks. Informed by the Coronavirus Task again opening up america includes three phases to safely reopen and get folks back to work. To initiate phase one, a state must meet a series of basic criteria, which can be tailored to reflect specific circumstances for a region or statewide approach. For weeks now, our state has taken targeted action to prevent, detect, and address the spread of coronavirus by leveraging data and advice from Health Officials in the public and private sectors. Thanks to this methodical approach and the millions of georgians who have literally worked diligently to slow the spread of coronavirus, we are on track to meet the criteria for phase one. According to the department of Public Health, reports of emergency room visits for flulike illnesses are declining , documented covid19 cases have flattened and appear to be declining, and we have seen declining emergency room visits in general. By expanding our hospital bed capacity, including the temporary facility at the Georgia World Congress center, we have the ability to treat patients without crisis care in hospital settings. Our proactive actions have on our stress and strain area hospitals as well as the communities and the families that they serve. Of the criteria is testing. For weeks i have expressed my frustration at the status of testing and committed more resources to expansion. We have partnered with the University System of georgia, partnered with the private sector and offer drivethrough services, and recently empowered Public Health departments across georgia to offer testing for all symptomatic individuals and specific asymptomatic individuals. Today we are taking that effort to a different level. By announcing an even Broader Partnership with the state toicated health system, double down on our Testing Capacity and meet the requirements necessary to move forward with the president s plan. As many of you know, a gusty University Health launcher telemedicine app as part of their comprehensive plan to screen, test, and treat georgia patients through an algorithm designed medical experts at the Medical College of georgia. Enhanced Public Health while reducing exposure to our doctors, nurses, and medical staff. We are encouraging symptomatics georgians and asymptomatic individuals on the front lines or in longterm care facilities to download this app this week and begin the screening process. Georgians can access the app by visiting agusta health. Org or downloading auhealth express care on your smartphone. 1852. N also call 706721 friendly,app is user and through this app, physicians and providers from agusta University Health and the Medical College of georgia are available to users 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you begin to display symptoms consistent with covid19, day or night, you can log into the auhealth telemedicine app, or call and get screened by a clinician. If you meet the criteria for testing, the app will contact you to schedule a test at one of the states designated testing locations near your home. Your Health Care Information will be securely transmitted to your designated testing site. This streamlined Testing Process reduces stress on both the patients and the testing site workers. Once you arrive for your appointment, you will provide a specimen for testing. The there, we will leverage power of several key academic institutions in this state to process these tests. These include Agusta University, emory university, Georgia State university, and the georgia Public Health labs. Beroughly 72 hours you will able to access your test results via a secure patient portal, and a medical provider will contact you directly if you are positive. The clinician will assist you with enrolling in the Self Reporting app by google named mtx, where, with patient consent, then can use monitoring and tracing. Through this partnership, Agusta University will produce testing swabs in the Dental College of georgia Innovation Labs. By using the same 3d printers that have produced face shields for our health care workers, the Innovation Lab will create thousands of swabs per day. This capacity greatly reduces our dependence on visitors, on vendors, and government entities, as we boost testing and get georgians back into the workplace. Under the leadership of ceo katrina, chief medical officer , general carden, and dr. Toomey, Agusta University will rollout this app statewide throughout the week. Our office will release more details and timelines very soon. In addition, the National Guard will introduce 10 new strike teams to deploy to hotspots, longterm care facilities, to administer 15,000 tests per day. Testing expansion through Agusta University and the guard will complement existing conditions, including the department capacity, georgia techs cvs testing site, and our private labs. As i have said before, testing defines the battlefield and informs our longterm strategy. These efforts significantly increase our capacity, as we take measured steps forward. Throughout this entire process, from creating the Coronavirus Task force, to today, we have relied on data, science, and the advice of Health Care Professionals to guide our approach and decisionmaking. We have been surgical, targeted, and methodical, always putting the health and wellbeing of our citizens first. And doing our best to protect lives and livelihoods in every part of our state. In the same way that we carefully closed nuisances and urged operations to end to negate the virus spread, today we are announcing plans to incrementally and safely reopen sectors of our economy. To help in this battle against covid19, Health Care Facilities across georgia voluntarily paused elective surgeries to reduce equipment and personnel shortages. This selfless act by Health Care Leaders enhanced our ability to keep georgians safe. However, many now find themselves in a difficult financial situation. Some losing millions of dollars a day as they sacrifice for the greater good. This is not sustainable longterm for these facilities. Given the recent changes in modeling as it relates to Surge Capacity and national supply, as the needs of other states diminish, and following weeks of discussions with Hospital Leaders and medical providers, i believe georgia is positioned to secure the necessary personal protective equipment for Health Care Facilities to resume elective surgeries deemed essential. Hospitals should continue discussions in their regions to ensure Patient Safety and the safety of their workforce, making sure that is a priority. I want to applaud all of the hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, doctors offices, dental offices, physical therapists, and Health Care Professionals that answered the call of duty involuntarily closed their doors. Its impossible for me to adequately express my grateful appreciation to you all. Whoto all of the georgians waited on getting an important procedure to allow us to get to the other side of this curve, i also would like to thank you. Your sacrifice literally helped us save lives. Given the favorable data, enhanced testing, and approval of our Health Care Professionals, we will allow gyms, fitness centers, bowling alleys, body art studios, barbers, cosmetologists, hair artists, snail care decisions, and massage therapists to reopen their doors this friday, april 24. Unlike other businesses, these entities have been unable to manage inventory, deal with payroll, and take care of the ministry of items while we shelterinplace. This measure allows them to undertake baseline operations that most other businesses in the state have maintained since i issued the shelterinplace order. This measure will apply statewide and will be the operational standard in all jurisdictions. This means local action cannot be taken that is more or less restrictive. Over the next few days, we will continue to closely monitor existing and potential hotspots in our state. I have stayed in regular contact with local leaders across georgia, especially those in darden county and surrounding counties, to ensure that we are providing adequate support. Right now, in albany and darty county, we are seeing great improvement. Chaired to the commission on a regular basis, that further action is warranted. And rest assured if any Community Needs the state to intervene, we will do so with their input, as well as their partnership. Now, the next point is a very important one. The entities which i am reopening are not reopening as business as usual. Each of these entities will be o specific restrictions, including adherence to the minimum basic operations, social distancing, and regular sanitation. Minimum basic operations include but is not limited to screening workers for fever and respiratory illness, enhancing workplace sanitation, wearing gloves and masks if appropriate, separating workspaces by at least 56 feet, and teleworking wherever possible, and implementing staggered shifts. Subject to the specific social distancing and sanitation mandates, theaters, private social clubs, and restaurant dinein services will be allowed to reopen on monday, april 27. Informationase more over the next few days. Bars, nightclubs, operators of Amusement Park rides, and Live Performance venues will remain closed. In the days ahead, we will be evaluating the data and conferring with Public Health officials to determine the best course of action for those establishments. By taking this measured action, we will get georgians back to work safely without undermining the progress that 11 59 p. M. Expire at on april 30 for most georgians. We urge everyone to continue to follow cdc and dph guidance by sheltering in place as often as you can. Limit your travel, and limit who goes with you on errands to prevent potential exposure. If possible wear a mask or covered clothing when you are in public to slow the spread of coronavirus. For the medically fragile and elderly georgians, make plans to shelterinplace through may 13. The date georgias Public Health emergency expires. Given the heightened risk of adverse consequences from your exposure to coronavirus, this is recommended, and the safest path forward. We will release more details as we near the end of the month so the medically fragile and elderly georgians will have adequate time to prepare. I want to continue to call on all my fellow georgians to protect our elderly. Limit your direct contact and help them navigate the weeks ahead. As i had been doing with my mom, during this time to ensure to make sure she does not have to go out, i urge all georgians to do the same for your loved ones and your neighbors, if you are able. Do what you can to help those in need. For places of worship, holding inperson services is allowed, but under the phase one guidelines it must be done in accordance with strict social distancing protocols. I urge faith leaders to continue to help us in this effort to keep their congregation safe by heeding the advice of Public Health officials. Online, of Course Online or driving services remains a good option. I want to thank all the faith leaders across the state who have stepped up and put their times inions, many front of their own institutions, for the greater good. I am so thankful for you wall, and i know many of you, that is a painful decision you had to make, and i know that financially it is tough. I feel that pain myself. But i want to thank you and encourage you to do the right us continue tolp fight the coronavirus. I also realize there are people that want to go back to in person services. Just make sure you are following the advice and guidelines. And i have spoken to many who are already implementing those policies, and we are glad to help you in that fight. While i am encouraged by the data, proud of what we have accomplished, and confident that our plan moving forward at our plan moving forward, i know that the journey ahead will be a long one. We must remain laserfocused on defeating this virus and keeping our citizens safe. Revitalized ways to communities that have literally been devastated by covid19. Opportunitiesfy for Economic Growth and prosperity. We will have to have tough conversations about the budget, state spending came spending, and our priorities as a state. Those conversations are underway, but here is what i know. Wewe remain united, just as have in this fight against covid19, we can overcome the challenges and the obstacles that are ahead of us. Politics,allow partisanship, elections and egos to divide us during this important inflection point, our entire state will suffer. As we begin this process, this measured, deliberate step forward, lets reaffirm our commitment to one another, to the greater good, and to georges future. Georgias future. Because i am confident we will emerge victorious from this war we are fighting. And with your help and gods grace, we will continue to build a safer, stronger, and more prosperous state for our families, and our generations to come. Thank you all. God bless you. It is my honor to turn the podium over to the tenant governor jeff duncan geoff duncan. I want to thank both of these gentlemen for a great partnership, for their support, and for also being with us today. You. Ov. Duncan thank thanking younk by for your consistent leadership through this crisis we are dealing with. Your team has communicated well to the General Assembly and i want to thank you very much for that consistent leadership you have sonos you have shown us. I want to thank all the agencies who continue to keep the health and wellbeing of georgians in their focus. Director andnk the doctor. I also want to thank millions of georgians who are personally sacrificing so much right now for the better good. For your families, your communities, your businesses, your education. I want to personally thank so many of those people in georgia for the sacrifice throughout this pandemic. I have spent a good bit of time the last four weeks trying to understand the additional issues and concerns that have arisen during this process, not just but theth care crisis, unintended consequences of the aging out process. I want to thank the governor and his team for accepting our letter of recommendation around the additional opportunity of things we can do around foster care. I also want to address Mental Health. It continues to be a growing issue. I urge everybody who is suffering from mental depression and illness right now to reach out to a friend, reach out for your community or state resources, to understand that this will pass. Another area of concern for us is continuing to look at the budget. As we focus on