As Georgia prepares to reopen its economy, many lawmakers and health experts are warning it may be too soon.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said he supports South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster’s (R) plan to reopen his state’s economy, “I support what South Carolina Governor [Henry McMaster] announced yesterday — a small reopening of our state’s economy with a focus on social distancing.”
However, he said he believes that Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s (R) plan to begin lifting restrictions is not the right approach, “I worry that our friends and neighbors in Georgia are going too fast too soon.”
We respect Georgia's right to determine its own fate, but we are all in this together.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) April 21, 2020
What happens in Georgia will impact us in South Carolina.
Graham explained the reason for his concern with Georgia’s plan, “We respect Georgia’s right to determine its own fate, but we are all in this together. What happens in Georgia will impact us in South Carolina.”
On Monday, Kemp announced that by the end of the week, he would be lifting restrictions on businesses and public life.
While several states, including South Carolina, have announced plans to reopen their economies, Georgia’s is the most aggressive in its attempt to return to pre-coronavirus life.
2018 gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams (D) blasted the move as “dangerously incompetent,” as IJR has previously reported.
Abrams laid out what she said were a variety of factors that she said made reopening the state now. She argued that along with steadily rising cases of the virus in the state, Georgia lacks sufficient public health infrastructure to handle a second wave of cases.
President Donald Trump unveiled new guidelines for states to reopen their economies on Thursday. But White House officials said that states ultimately have the power to decide how to reopen their economies.