Photograph by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
On Friday, the governor pleaded with Georgians to not attend in-person Easter services. Here’s your Saturday morning update:
• There are now 11,859 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Georgia, 974 more than yesterday morning. 425 people have died, 13 more than yesterday morning. 2,454 have been hospitalized. 46,147 tests have been conducted. [GA Dept. of Public Health]
• “To all Georgians celebrating Easter this Sunday, I am pleading with you to not attend any services in person,” says Governor Brian Kemp in a statement issued Friday. As the AJC notes, at least two of the state’s most severe outbreaks have been traced back to church services, as large gatherings create an immense risk of spread. Instead, consider a livestreamed service. WSB-TV has a large list here, and will also be airing a televised service at 2 p.m. [Office of the Governor/AJC/WSB-TV]
• While the CDC recommends everyone wear cloth face masks while out and about, Georgia’s state code actually has a mask ordinance makes it a misdemeanor to cover the majority of your face. Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms issued an executive order to halt APD from enforcing the ordinance for 60 days. State Senator Nikema Williams (D-Atlanta) is also calling on the governor to suspend the ordinance statewide for the rest of the shelter in place order. [Twitter/Twitter]
• While COVID-19 cases continue to rise, hospitals in metro Atlanta are reporting fewer-than-anticipated coronavirus cases as they brace for the state’s peak caseload, which is still expected to hit in about a week and a half. Hopefully this means that social distancing is making a difference, so hang in there, Atlanta. [WSB-TV]
• The amount of nursing homes and senior care facilities with COVID-19 outbreaks has nearly doubled in a week’s time, from 47 to 80. Fulton County’s most severe case is at Arbor Terrace at Cascade, which has 48 residents and 17 staff members who have tested positive and seven resident fatalities, according to the AJC. [AJC]
• While Atlanta’s roads are immensely more car-free than usual and fuel emissions have dropped, our air quality hasn’t really changed dramatically, Curbed Atlanta reports, noting that ozone levels are similar to January 2019, and other statistics have only slight improvements over the beginning of the month. [Curbed Atlanta]
• Emory has announced it will cancel all fall study abroad trips, the first local school to do so. [AJC]
• Instagram Live has become an unlikely community space for some of Atlanta’s most famous hip-hop and R&B artists. Jermaine Dupri’s virtual 404 Day party brought out more than 10,000 viewers and plenty of celebrity comments. And producer battles hosted by legends Timbaland and Swizz Beatz have given music fans a blast of nostalgia and distraction. Read our story about the phenomenon here.
• The Masters will not be held in Augusta this weekend, but you can still enjoy pimento cheese at home with these recipes. Azaleas not included, unfortunately.
• Weekend fun: Atlanta Humane is hosting virtual puppy yoga from 11 a.m. to noon today for $5. [Atlanta Humane Society]
• More weekend fun: If you miss going out to the club or catching a live show, don’t miss our roundup of local streaming sets, some of which happen weekly, some this weekend only.
