This story has been updated. 

Atlanta, GA — An executive order issued by Gov. Brian Kemp includes a directive that cities can’t adopt and enforce their own ordinances requiring people to wear face masks.

Several cities, including Decatur and Avondale Estates, have adopted ordinances requiring mask-wearing. People who don’t adhere to the ordinances face a fine. Decaturish sent a message to the city managers of both cities seeking comment about the governor’s new order.

Previous executive orders have prohibited cities from taking actions that are more or less restrictive than what the state has ordered, but the order on July 15 “specified for the first time that cities and counties can’t require the use of masks or other face coverings,” according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

The order also extends a ban on gatherings of more than 50 people. It encourages but does not require mask use to stop the spread of COVID-19.

To read the full order, click here.

Kemp’s order comes as COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Georgia and around the country. A day before his order, July 14, Gov. Kemp sent out a press release announcing a partnership with Piedmont Healthcare to provide additional hospital beds to treat COVID-19 patients at the Marcus Tower of the Piedmont Atlanta campus.

“The partnership includes initial usage of 62 beds, with the capability to scale up based on demand,” the press release says.

Here is the full announcement:

Gov. Kemp, Piedmont Healthcare Partner for Increased Hospital Bed Surge Capacity

Atlanta, GA – Today [July 14] Governor Brian P. Kemp joined Kevin Brown, President and CEO of Piedmont Healthcare, to announce a partnership to provide additional hospital bed surge capacity to treat COVID-19 patients in Georgia at the Marcus Tower of the Piedmont Atlanta campus.

“I’m very grateful to Kevin Brown and the entire Piedmont Healthcare team for their willingness to partner with the state of Georgia and provide this critical resource to patients and surrounding hospitals,” said Governor Kemp. “These hospital beds will provide additional surge capacity for healthcare facilities in metro-Atlanta and ensure COVID-19 patients receive the essential care they need.”

The partnership includes initial usage of 62 beds, with the capability to scale up based on demand.

“Our mission as a nonprofit healthcare system is to serve patients in our communities and the new Marcus Tower will incorporate the latest technology and larger patient rooms to provide for enhanced care, among numerous other benefits,” said Piedmont Healthcare President and CEO Kevin Brown. “Opening the tower early will help to meet the needs of our communities – and all Georgians – and provide the highest quality of care possible.”

The state will leverage existing medical staffing contracts to provide necessary personnel to Piedmont Atlanta throughout the usage of the facility. This facility is expected to be fully operational within the next week.

Prior to today’s announcement, Governor Kemp joined Piedmont Healthcare staff for a tour of the Marcus Tower.

The state of Georgia as of July 15 has 127,834 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 3,091 related deaths.

There are 14,102 hospitalizations and 2,702 ICU admissions.

Here are the daily COVID-19 numbers since April 27. All information is provided by the state Department of Public Health and is presumed to be accurate.

Tuesday, July 14 — 123,963 cases, 3,054 deaths

Monday, July 13 — 120,569 cases, 3,026 deaths

Sunday, July 12 — 116,926 cases, 3,001 deaths

Saturday, July 11 — 114,401 cases, 2,996 deaths

Friday, July 10 — 111,211 cases, 2,965 deaths

Thursday, July 9 — 106,727 cases, 2,930 deaths

Wednesday, July 8 — 103,890 cases, 2,922 deaths

Tuesday, July 7 — 100,470 cases, 2,899 deaths

Monday, July 6 — 97,064 cases, 2,878 deaths

Sunday, July 5 — 95,516 cases, 2,860 deaths

Saturday, July 4 — 93,319 cases, 2,857 deaths

Friday, July 3 — 90,493 cases, 2,856 deaths

Thursday, July 2 — 87,709 cases, 2,849 deaths

Wednesday, July 1 — 84,237 cases, 2,827 deaths

Tuesday, June 30 — 81,291 cases, 2,805 deaths

Monday, June 29 — 79,417 cases, 2,784 deaths

Sunday, June 28 — 77,210 cases, 2,778 deaths

Saturday, June 27 — 74,985 cases, 2,776 deaths

Friday, June 26 — 72,995 cases, 2,770 deaths

Thursday, June 25 — 71,095 cases, 2,745 deaths

Wednesday, June 24 — 69,381 cases, 2,698 deaths

Tuesday, June 23 — 67,675 cases, 2,687 deaths

Monday, June 22 — 65,928 cases, 2,648 deaths

Sunday, June 21 — 64,701 cases, 2,643 deaths

Saturday, June 20 — 63,809 cases, 2,642 deaths

Friday, June 19 — 62,009 cases, 2,636 deaths

Thursday, June 18 — 60,912 cases, 2,605 deaths

Wednesday, June 17 — 60,030 cases, 2,575 deaths

Tuesday, June 16 — 59,078 cases, 2,529 deaths

Monday, June 15 — 58,414 cases, 2,494 deaths

Sunday, June 14 — 57,681 cases, 2,451 deaths

Saturday, June 13 — 56,801 cases, 2,446 deaths

Friday, June 12 — 55,783 cases, 2,418 deaths

Thursday, June 11 — 54,973 cases, 2,375 deaths

Wednesday, June 10 — 53,980 cases, 2,329 deaths

Tuesday, June 9 — 53,249 cases, 2,285 deaths

Monday, June 8 — 52,497 cases, 2,208 deaths

Sunday, June 7 — 51,898 cases, 2,180 deaths

Saturday, June 6 — 51,359 cases, 2,178 deaths

Friday, June 5 — 50,621 cases, 2,174 deaths

Thursday, June 4 — 49,847 cases, 2,147 deaths

Wednesday, June 3 — 48,894 cases, 2,123 deaths

Tuesday, June 2 — 48,207, 2,102 deaths

Monday, June 1 — 47,618 cases, 2,074 deaths

Sunday, May 31 — 47,063 cases, 2,053 deaths

Saturday, May 30 — 46,286 cases, 2,003 deaths

Friday, May 29 — 45,670 cases, 1,974 deaths

Thursday, May 28 — 45,070 cases, 1,962 deaths

Wednesday, May 27 — 44,421 cases, 1,907 deaths

Tuesday, May 26 — 43,730 cases, 1,871 deaths

Monday, May 25 – 43,344 cases, 1,830 deaths

Sunday, May 24 – 42,838 cases, 1,824 deaths

Saturday, May 23 – 42,132 cases, 1,811 deaths

Friday, May 22 – 41,218 cases, 1,785 deaths

Thursday, May 21 – 40,405 cases, 1,754 deaths

Wednesday, May 20 – 39,647 cases, 1,687 deaths

Tuesday, May 19 – 38,721 cases, 1,664 deaths

Monday, May 18 – 38,081 cases, 1,642 deaths

Sunday, May 17 – 37,642 cases, 1,606 deaths

Saturday, May 16 – 37,147 cases, 1,592 deaths

Friday, May 15 – 36,681 cases, 1,557 deaths

Thursday, May 14 – 35,858 cases, 1,527 deaths

Wednesday, May 13 – 35,245 cases, 1,493 deaths

Tuesday, May 12 – 34,635 cases, 1,461 deaths

Monday, May 11 – 33,927 cases, 1,441 deaths

Sunday, May 10 – 33,454 cases, 1,405 deaths

Saturday, May 9 – 32,561 cases, 1,401 deaths

Friday, May 8 – 31,722 cases, 1,356 deaths

Thursday, May 7 – 31,309 cases, 1,336 deaths

Wednesday, May 6 — 30,602 cases, 1,306 deaths

Tuesday, May 5 – 29,598 cases, 1,211 deaths

Monday, May 4 – 29,177 cases, 1,211 deaths

Sunday, May 3 – 28,602 cases, 1,177 deaths

Saturday, May 2 – 28,304 cases, 1,173 deaths

Friday, May 1 – 27,023 cases, 1,140 deaths

Thursday, April 30 – 26,033 cases, 1,107 deaths

Wednesday, April 29 – 25,274 cases, 1,052 deaths

Tuesday, April 28 – 24,606 cases, 1,025 deaths

Monday, April 27 – 23,773 cases, 942 deaths

To see the full report, click here.

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