Peach Tree Times

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp says his recent executive order focused on protecting businesses and allowing them to continue operating without the crunch of renewed COVID restrictions.

Georgia’s unemployment rate has declined for 14 straight months and currently sits at 3.7%, well below the national average, the state Department of Labor said in a release. This is also the first time that unemployment has dropped to pre-pandemic levels, the release said.

"After ending Georgia's participation in the federal unemployment insurance programs in June, the state has seen growth of almost 84,000 jobs and has seen a 300% increase in the number of people employed from June to July," Georgia Commissioner of Labor Mark Butler said in the release. "We are seeing all-time high job numbers in many sectors. The job market is saturated with opportunities for job seekers, and we are working to connect employers with candidates for long-term employment."

Kemp cited the surging economy to defend his new policies relating to the coronavirus. 

"Just as our economy has started returning to normal, small businesses from Savannah to Atlanta could not survive another round of shutdowns" Kemp said, according to 11 Alive. "Local governments will not be able to force businesses to be the cities' mask police, vaccine police or any other burdensome restriction that will only lead to employees being let go, revenue tanking and businesses closing their doors."

In June, Peach Tree Times reported that Kemp ended the extra federal unemployment dollars and reinstated the work-search requirement, resulting in a massive reduction in unemployment claims. 

Kemp on Aug. 19 issued an executive order that prohibits local governments from reimposing COVID restrictions.

The order says businesses cannot be forced to comply with "onerous" restrictions, 11 Alive reported. Under the order, businesses are free to institute whatever protections and restrictions they please. 

Kemp said the best thing to do going forward is to allow Georgians to make their own decisions about health and safety, according to 11 Alive. The governor said he did not think businesses would be able to survive another round of lockdowns imposed by local governments.