Gov. Kemp urges people to wear masks while on Southwest Ga tour

ALBANY, Ga. – Governor Brian Kemp touched down in Albany for his first stop in his “wear a mask” fly-around tour.

Kemp encouraged Georgians to wear masks while out in public to help contain the spread of COVID-19 as there’s been a spike in COVID-19 cases around the state.

“We’re seeing the recent upticks throughout our country and in our state and that is a clear reminder that we’re not out of the woods yet, we cannot grow complacent or weary this is a new day and a new challenge thankfully this community has been through that challenge before and is probably better prepared to handle it in many ways better than anybody else in the state,” said Gov. Kemp.

In the early months of the pandemic Dougherty County was once a hot-bed for COVID-19 infections and deaths per capita.

“As you will recall if you cast your minds back 3 months ago we were literally number 3 in the entire world behind the Wuhan Provence in china and the Lombardy region of Italy,” said Chris Cohilas, Dougherty County Commission Chairman.

And now neighboring counties like Tift and Colquitt are each averaging 20 new COVID-19 cases per day. In the last two days, Colquitt County has seen 81 new COVID-19 cases, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health. And heading into the 4th of July weekend, Gov. Kemp wants to remind people to wear their masks.

“Do the right thing, practice social distancing, it works wear a face mask if you cant socially distance, it works,” he said.

Gov. Kemp also urged people to think of others during this time as COVID-19 continues to affect people in the community.

“You can protect yourselves, your loved ones, this community, this state and quite honestly the rest of the country. We are in this fight together and I’m urging everyone to do their part.”