Georgia Governor Brian Kemp announced on July 16 that he is suing Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms' recent coronavirus restrictions and mask mandate, claiming it disregards his emergency orders. Taking to his Twitter handle, Kemp revealed that the lawsuit is on behalf of Atlanta business owners and their hardworking employees who are struggling to survive these unprecedented times.
Kemp went on to accuse local elected officials of shutting down businesses and hindering economic growth, while business owners and their employees continue doing their best to put food on the table for their families. Bottoms responded a moment later, noting that 3104 Georgians have succumbed to the deadly virus, and she and her family are among the 106,000 people who tested positive for COVID-19.
She concluded her tweet saying amid the rise in coronavirus cases, Kemp has sued her for a mask mandate. Using hashtag #ATLStrong, she suggested that taxpayer money can be utilized to expand testing and contact tracing. The lawsuit intensifies the brewing feud between Bottoms and Kemp after the Atlanta mayor announced the mask mandate.
Under the law, anyone caught without a mask within Atlanta's city limits would be subject to a fine and even up to six months in jail. The governor's office, on the other hand, suggests the aforesaid mandate is not legally enforceable because Kemp had signed an executive order that restricts local action being more restraining than the state's requirement.
Kemp's office released a statement, advising the mayor to enforce state restrictions if she wants to flatten the curve in Atlanta, adding that she has failed to do so. The statement urged citizens and business owners to comply with the terms of the governor's order, which was created in collaboration with state public health officials, CNN reported.
The statement suggests the lives and livelihoods of all Georgians can be protected simply by following these common-sense measures. Just one day before the lawsuit, Kemp suspended all local government mask mandates despite the surge in COVID-19 cases in the state.
Under the executive order, Kemp extended the public emergency in the state, saying face coverings are strongly recommended, but not required. The Republican governor's executive order nullifies masks mandates introduced by some local governments as coronavirus cases continue to increase in cities across the state, with more than 3,000 deaths.
While Kemp has refrained from enforcing a statewide mask mandate in Georgia, other Republican governors are now requiring face masks in their states. The governor's executive order received strong criticism from mayors in the state.