Thread by @MayaTPrabhu

Follow along here as I'll be live tweeting tonight's #coronavirus town hall meeting with @GovKemp #gapol

https://twitter.com/GovKemp/status/1243323259053060102

Updates and context will also appear in our running blog on @ajc from @TamarHallerman and @bluestein. #coronavirus #gapol ajc.com/news/state--re…

Appreciate the ASL interpreter appearing in the corner of tonight's #coronavirus town hall. #gapol

.@GovKemp on why he has not ordered a #shelterinplace in Georgia: says he's taking advice from health officials, his #coronavirus task force. "I'm having to govern the whole state." Says more than 50 counties don't have a confirmed case, but he supports steps of local governments

.@govkemp: "My case tonight to Georgians, if you will stop the spread ... if we can get our citizens to follow thee directions it will absolutely turn this curve and we will get on the other side of this virus." #gapol #coronavirus

.@GovKemp stresses the desire to test as many people as possible and improving the turnaround time for getting results. "But we can't just be so focused on testing that we're not focused on how we curb and flatline this virus." #gapol #coronavirus

.@GaDPH commissioner Kathleen Toomey: "I'm less focused on the exact number and more focused on how we can get individuals to focus on prevention."
#gapol #coronavirus

.@GaDPH Commissioner Toomey: Says she believes social distancing is helping and reminds people there is a two week incubation period for the virus. "The idea isn't that we'll prevent every case, but we'll slow the spread."
#gapol #coronavirus

.@GaDPH Commissioner Toomey on if there should be a statewide lockdown: What's good for Atlanta, which is the correct thing Mayor Bottoms did, may not be the correct thing for these other areas where we have limited spread. ... It depends on the community where you're located.

.@GaDPH Commissioner Toomey on if Georgia has enough ventilators: We are earlier in our epidemic than New York is so we have a chance to mitigate this in a way that perhaps they didn't.
#gapol #coronavirus

.@GaDPH Commissioner Toomey on why they are saving tests for those who are very sick or more at risk: Obviously the more you test the better it would be. Be we are limited, as is every other state, in the tests we have.
#coronavirus #gapol

.@KeishaBottoms on how #coronavirus will impact the homeless: Our homeless population is a very vulnerable population. Often have underlying health conditions that make them more susceptible to coronavirus.
#gapol #coronavirus

ALSO INBOX just now: The first state representative, sixth state elected official, has tested positive for #coronavirus #gapol

https://twitter.com/donnalowrynews/status/1243333516240322560

.@KeishaBottoms: If it were my call, I would have a stay at home order for the entire country but obviously that is not my call. And I certainly understand and respect the governor's position that (he serves) diverse constituencies across the state and their needs.
#gapol

.@GeorgiaEMA Director Homer Bryson on how a pandemic is different from a natural disaster: The uniqueness in this is the ability of citizens in our state to control how big an issue that it truly is and how quickly we can recover and get back to normal.
#gapol #coronavirus

.@GA_DOI Commissioner John King, who is bilingual, took and answered questions in English and Spanish:

https://twitter.com/ribunchreports/status/1243336839467065344

#gapol #coronavirus

.@GovKemp on diagnosing undocumented immigrants: No matter who the person is, if they're in our state, if they're in our country, we've got to make sure that they get treated and that they don't continue to spread this virus.
#gapol #coronavirus

.@GovKemp on his decision to keep state schools closed through April 24: Data that we have today is really two weeks old and teachers, staff and students need to be sure that they'll be safe when they return.
#gapol #coronavirus

As the pandemic causes people to lose their jobs and their health insurance, @GovKemp is asked if he will expand Medicaid: The whole Medicaid argument will be a legislative question. Obviously, with the Legislature suspended that is not an issue that I've been focused on.
#gapol

.@GovKemp asked again about why he's not locking down the state, points to his order asking those vulnerable to stay home: It's up to all Georgians, including myself - I've told my own mother, 'You've got to tsay at home. Do not go out. It would not be a good thing to do."
#gapol

.@GovKemp said he focused on protecting medically fragile, closing bars and nightclubs and limiting gatherings that are of 10 or more people. "I feel like we've targeted the areas we need to target. If we need more in the future, I certainly have that tolls still in the toolbox."

When asked about protecting people who are laid off if they stay home from work when sick with #coronavirus, @GovKemp said he thinks the private sector is responding well and believes the federal stimulus package will protect people who lose their jobs.
#gapol

And, to cap off the night, @markniesse with the update on state Rep. Matthew Gambill testing positive for #coronavirus. ajc.com/news/state--re… #gapol #COVID19

*tool

And that's a wrap, folks!

https://twitter.com/TamarHallerman/status/1243355388709240832

#gapol #coronavirus