Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s decision to reopen the state’s economy hasn’t been “as bad” as she thought.
“Is it a little muddier than being able to say, ‘I was right’ or ‘I was wrong?’” MSNBC’s Brian Williams asked Bottoms about the situation in Georgia. “Are we as of the time of this conversation somewhere in the middle, do you think?”
“Well, what I can say, Brian, is it’s not as bad as I thought that it would be,” she responded. “So, I am pleased about that, but I still think it’s too soon to say,” she continued. “The reason being, whereas initially, we were seeing increases between deaths and people testing positive, rising anywhere from 25 to 30% over a seven-day period. Right now, we’re somewhere between 12 and 15%. And it’s better than it was, but it’s still not great. We’ve still not seen that 14-day decline, as recommended by the CDC.”
Bottoms has openly criticized Kemp’s decision to reopen the state and asked Atlanta residents to stay home despite the lifting of the stay-at-home order, adding that the decision to reopen was “baffling.”
“Today marks the lowest number of COVID-19 positive patients currently hospitalized statewide (1,203) since hospitals began reporting this data on April 8th,” Kemp posted on Twitter earlier this month. “Today also marks the lowest total of ventilators in use (897 with 1,945 available).”
“We will win this fight together!” he added.
Today marks the lowest number of COVID-19 positive patients currently hospitalized statewide (1,203) since hospitals began reporting this data on April 8th.
Today also marks the lowest total of ventilators in use (897 with 1,945 available).
We will win this fight together! pic.twitter.com/byxACEiQCp
— Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) May 9, 2020
There have been more 38,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in the state and 1,600 deaths associated with the illness.
