Georgia Trend Daily – March 20, 2020
March 20, 2020 Marietta Daily Journal
Georgia Power Foundation invests $1 million to support state in COVID-19 recovery
Staff reports that Georgia Power Foundation Inc. is investing $1 million in 2020 to support the state of Georgia in addressing the unprecedented impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The company also announced recently that it would suspend residential disconnections beginning March 14 for 30 days.
March 20, 2020 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
COVID-19 letter from Georgia Trend
Ben Young writes, as we head into a very challenging time, we at Georgia Trend wanted to reach out to our readers to let you know that we are more committed than ever to our role as a source of news for the state of Georgia. All of our staff is working during this time and will be fully functioning in all of our capacities for the foreseeable future.
March 20, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jobless claims soar in Georgia — worse likely coming
Michael E. Kanell reports that filings for unemployment benefits have soared by roughly 400% this week, enough to sporadically overload government web pages, officials said Thursday. With concern about the coronavirus intensifying, the Georgia Labor Department on Wednesday closed Career Centers around the state and asked laid-off workers to file claims online.
March 20, 2020 Atlanta Business Chronicle
‘We will get through this’: Delta’s CEO says airline is on ‘solid footing’ as he pilots company through coronavirus storm
Chris Fuhrmeister reports that with flights between the United States and Europe restricted, Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines Inc. on March 13 announced it would cut capacity by 40% in the next few months, the largest cut in company history. Five days later, Delta upped that capacity reduction to 70%.
March 20, 2020 Augusta Chronicle
Hard work, long hours helped Augusta University lab develop coronavirus test
Tom Corwin reports that hard work around the clock enabled a laboratory at Augusta University to come up with their own test for the virus that causes COVID-19, which will greatly speed up results for people in Augusta and potentially cut down on the spread of the disease.
March 20, 2020 Saporta Report
Emory seeks corporate donations to fund human testing of pill to treat coronavirus
David Pendered reports that Emory University is requesting donations from Atlanta’s corporate community to fund research into a treatment for the coronavirus. The treatment could be delivered as a pill, according to a document Emory released at a March 11 meeting. Emory has previously publicized its research into the treatment and thoughts that it could be effective against the new coronavirus.
March 20, 2020 Savannah Morning News
Port of Savannah adds additional container storage
Staff reports that the Port of Savannah is bringing online 400,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of annual container capacity, the Georgia Ports Authority announced Thursday, March 19. “With slowing demand related to the coronavirus, port users need space to stage their cargo until that demand returns,” said GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch.
March 20, 2020 Newnan Times-Herald
Yamaha Newnan to pause after employee tests COVID-19 positive
Staff reports that Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America in Newnan announced it would be pausing normal manufacturing operations after an employee tested positive for COVID-19. The company released a statement Thursday stating the employee is in good condition and is being quarantined to prevent spreading the infection to others.
March 20, 2020 Brunswick News
Whether hospital can handle outbreak depends on public
Taylor Cooper reports that whether or not the Southeast Georgia Health System’s hospital in Brunswick can handle a COVID-19 outbreak depends largely on the general public, according to the health system’s top official. “I think there’s a high likelihood that by practicing social distancing, it will prevent many people from contracting the virus,” said Michael Scherneck, SGHS president and chief executive officer.
March 20, 2020 Capitol Beat News
Coronavirus reducing traffic, gas tax revenue
Dave Williams reports, as anyone who has ventured out on the highways in the last few days has noticed, the coronavirus pandemic has reduced traffic volumes. Traffic across metro Atlanta during morning rush has been down 20% to 40%, Georgia Commissioner of Transportation Russell McMurry told members of the State Transportation Board Thursday.
March 20, 2020 The Center Square
Rural hospitals in Georgia face bigger challenges in COVID-19 response
Nyamekye Daniel reports that as COVID-19 cases continue to climb, the lack of access to health care in rural areas could become more of an issue. Georgia lawmakers hope that $5 million added to the amended fiscal 2020 budget will help maintain the rural health-care system through the pandemic and beyond.
March 20, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Perdue, Loeffler among senators whose stock trading during coronavirus raises questions
Tia Mitchell reports that Georgia’s two U.S. senators bought and sold stocks during the same time they were receiving briefings on the coronavirus outbreak, leading to questions about whether they used inside information to guide their financial dealings. Senate rules prohibit members from profiting off of inside information they learn through their elected offices that is not available to the public.
