Yesterday was a long-awaited win, and now the stipulations of Governor Kemp's Order are available. While a fairly comprehensive Order, the details are critical, and there are potential loopholes to be closed. The silver lining is that we have an opportunity to refine the Order before it is (presumably) renewed.

Here are a few takeaways from Governor Kemp's Shelter in Place Order that warrant further discussion (the AJC article below contains a link to the full 9 page order.)

1) Minimum Basic Operations for a business, establishment, corporation, non-profit corporation, or organization includes remaining open to the public subject to the restrictions of the Order. While the governor has specified many businesses that are to remain closed (gyms, fitness centers, bowling alleys, theaters, live performance venues, operators of amusement rides, body art studios, estheticians, hair designers, massage therapists, and "bars"), other "retailers and service providers" may conduct Minimal Basic Operations. The restrictions of the Order indicate that workers who exhibit signs of illness should be screened and evaluated.

In short, the governor's list is not exhaustive. There remain countless nonessential businesses that are allowed to remain open under this Order. Rather than specify categories of businesses that must close, we would be better off as a state if the governor specified which entities are allowed to remain open: consider drug stores, pharmacies, and grocery stores - these are the businesses that provide the vital goods we need during this pandemic.

The governor's approach has potential to be taken advantage of, with nonessential businesses finding ways to consider themselves essential, as we have seen in other states. The more of these businesses that remain open to the public, the more unnecessary human interaction we will have, which will promote further spread of COVID-19. That is why the success of this Order depends on the decisions of each individual Georgian. We must do our part to make socially responsible choices. Every day we are learning more about how infectious this virus is, perhaps transmissible simply by breathing or talking.

Disturbingly, the restrictions of the Order focus on symptoms. Yesterday, the governor stated he had just learned about asymptomatic transmission and that this revelation was a game changer. Keeping any nonessential retail or service providers open facilitates continued asymptomatic transmission and community spread.

2) The last page of the Order states, "It is further that nothing in this Order shall be construed to suspend or limit the sale, dispensing, or transportation of firearms or ammunition, or any component thereof." This is a sensitive subject and now is not the time for a debate about the Second Amendment. However, guns will not kill the coronavirus. All of the allowed activities delineated above pertaining to firearms only encourage more movement of people, and in turn more transmission of the virus. This pandemic will pass. This is temporary.

3) Although I did not see places of worship mentioned specifically in the Order, the AJC article states that the Order allows them to remain open. Again, this is a very sensitive subject. I will only say that I hope we don't repeat in our state what happened recently in Louisiana and Florida.

So, there is some work yet to be done. Yesterday was a win, but we must continue to be heard for this shelter in place to be maximally effective and save the most lives. Please call the governor's office (404-656-1776). Let him know your thoughts about the Order. Maybe just thank him for finally doing it!

Stay home, stay safe,

Akshat