February 29th, 2020
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp & GPB –
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed an executive order on February 29th, and revealed he has assembled a statewide task force to manage preparations for Corona-virus.
“Georgia’s corona-virus task force represents a coalition of subject-matter experts from the private and public sectors who will work together on preventative measures, strategic deployment of resources, and collaboration across all levels of government,” Kemp said.
Georgia Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Kathleen Toomey joined Kemp for a press conference at 3 p.m. where they assured residents that officials are preparing for any scenario possible.
The task force members include:
Felipe den Brok – Director – City of Atlanta’s Office of Emergency Preparedness
Homer Bryson – Director – Georgia Emergency Management & Homeland Security Agency
Major General Tom Carden – Adjutant General – Georgia National Guard
Chris Carr – Attorney General – Office of the Attorney General
Sharon Cooper – RN, MSN Chair – State House Health & Human Services Committee
Greg Dozier – Commissioner – Technical College System of Georgia
Cherie Drenzek – State Epidemiologist – Georgia Department of Public Health
Tim Fleming – Chief of Staff – Office of the Governor
John Haupert, FACHE – Chief Executive Officer – Grady Health System
John King – Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner – Georgia Department of Insurance
Colleen Kraft, MD -Director – Emory University Clinical Virology Research Laboratory
Ryan Loke –Healthcare Advisor – Office of the Governor
John Selden –General Manager – Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport
Lorri Smith –Chief Operating Officer – Office of the Governor
Kathleen Toomey, MD, MPH -Commissioner – Georgia Department of Public Health
Ben Watson, MD -Chair – State Senate Health & Human Services Committee
Richard Woods – State School Superintendent – Georgia Department of Education
Steve Wrigley – Chancellor – University System of Georgia
The tasks force’s 18 members will address procedures for preventing, identifying, and addressing cases of COVID-19.
The tasks force’s 18 members will address procedures for preventing, identifying, and addressing cases of COVID-19. Considering the record number of travelers coming through the world’s busiest airport, the governor has also named General Manager of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport John Selden to his task force.
“We’ll certainly be talking to them about [the coronavirus],” Kemp said. “But I just came from the airport; I was in the airport yesterday and, you know, there’s still a lot people going through the airport and I would urge people to follow the direction they’re getting from health officials.”