Georgia Trend Daily – March 17, 2020
March 17, 2020 Valdosta Daily Times, Ga.-Fl. News
Governor orders all Ga. schools closed over COVID-19
Terry Richards reports that Gov. Brian Kemp ordered all public elementary, secondary and post-secondary schools in Georgia closed from March 18 to March 31 to battle the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.
March 17, 2020 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Trendsetters: Sleep Pod Startup
Mary Ann DeMuth reports that “Necessity is the mother of invention,” as the saying goes. A perfect example of the proverb is the mother-daughter team who invented a product that helps babies, toddlers and their parents sleep better when traveling. SlumberPod, the brainchild of Lou Childs of Columbus and Katy Mallory of Decatur (Lou’s daughter), is an easy-to-assemble privacy pod – like a freestanding tent – that completely encloses a travel crib, playard or toddler mattress.
March 17, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia restaurants struggle, businesses and workers on edge
Michael E. Kanell reports that Rob Atherholt is struggling to keep Taqueria el Vecino alive and its staff intact while business evaporates and public officials encourage citizens to avoid crowds. By Sunday, business was off 60% and takeout orders – typically just a fraction of sales – were simply not enough to give him confidence that he can stay open, he said. “It’s day to day.”
March 17, 2020 Atlanta Business Chronicle
One of Atlanta’s fastest-growing private companies makes another acquisition
Jessica Saunders reports that one of Atlanta’s fastest-growing private companies, CRH Healthcare, has made another acquisition. CRH acquired ChoiceOne Urgent Care’s interest in a joint venture with Calvert Health System (CHS), which operates the three urgent care centers, according to an announcement.
March 17, 2020 GlobalAtlanta.com
Atlanta’s Riskonnect Expands Into U.K. With Acquisition, Belfast Office
Trevor Williams reports that Riskonnect, an Atlanta-based provider of software and solutions that help companies manage risk and government compliance, has made significant moves into the United Kingdom, opening a Belfast office and acquiring a London-based company within the same week.
March 17, 2020 Georgia.gov
Quarantine Space Under Construction in Monroe County
Staff reports that onMarch 14, 2020 Governor Kemp, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA), and the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) announced that a quarantine space for persons who test positive for COVID-19 and are unable to self-isolate is under construction on the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC) Campus in Monroe County.
March 17, 2020 Brunswick News
Peaches to Beaches attracts large number of sellers
Terry Dickson reports that Georgia’s 230-mile Peaches to Beaches yard sale along U.S. 341 may have had its largest number of sellers ever in its 16 years, at least in Glynn County. The thing that was missing this year, however, was a steady flow of out-of-town and out-of-state shoppers.
March 17, 2020 GPB
Some Public Meetings In Macon Go Virtual To Control Coronavirus, Others Canceled
Liz Fabian reports that concern over the global coronavirus pandemic is putting disaster preparedness plans to the test. The Macon-Bibb County Commission will be meeting by phone Tuesday and the Planning & Zoning department has decided to close its doors to the public.
March 17, 2020 Savannah Morning News
Disaster assistance loans available for Savannah businesses
Katie Nussbaum reports, from hurricanes to snow days, Savannah businesses have had a tough several years. As the spread of COVID-19 continues, many businesses are in unfamiliar territory and are once again facing the possible loss of revenue and customers as travelers cancel plans and events are postponed.
March 17, 2020 Albany Herald, Clayton News-Daily
Georgia Chief Justice Melton amends judicial emergency, restores some court functions under COVID-19 crisis
Robin Kemp reports that Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Harold Melton has issued an amendment, dated March 14, to an earlier judicial emergency order allowing for limited court functions and for jury trials already in progress prior to the emergency to continue to completion during the coronavirus crisis.
March 17, 2020 Rome News-Tribune
Local lawmakers back emergency declaration
Diane Wagner reports that local lawmakers said Monday they’re confident that giving Gov. Brian Kemp broad emergency powers is the right move to deal with the rapidly escalating threat from the novel coronavirus. The Georgia General Assembly spent the day hammering out a joint, bipartisan resolution ratifying Kemp’s public health emergency declaration.
March 17, 2020 Georgia Recorder
Struggling rural health care system to get tested by COVID-19 outbreak
Ross Williams reports that Dr. Brent Waters sees a bit of everything at his medical office in Blackshear near the southeast corner of Georgia. Patients come to his clinic for worries ranging from colds and the flu to chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension as well as bumps, bruises and cuts.
March 17, 2020 The Center Square
Georgia Chamber of Commerce examines COVID-19 losses, as retailers try to keep pace
Nyamekye Daniel reports that the Georgia Chamber of Commerce is working to assess the economic impact of COVID-19 on the state’s businesses. As reported positive cases of COVID-19 continue to rise, many Georgia business owners have put plans in place to keep operations going. With Gov. Brian Kemp declaring a state of emergency and the Department of Public Health reporting 121 positive cases of COVID-19, including one death, Georgia Chamber of Commerce officials are working early to examine the financial damage.
March 17, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Jolt: To keep them out of long lines, May 19 absentee ballot forms may be mailed to older voters
Jim Galloway, Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell report that Saturday, as the national effort required to shut down the new coronavirus became clear, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger postponed the March 24 presidential primary in Georgia, moving it to May 19 – the same day as party primaries for state and local offices. This morning, Raffensperger is likely to go one step further: His office has plans to mail absentee ballot applications for the May 19 contest to older voters throughout Georgia, in order to keep those most vulnerable away from long lines and touch screens that could expose them to the virus.
