Atlanta mayor urges residents to stay at home as governor reopens state: ‘Look at the science’

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) is urging city residents to stay at home even as Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) plans to reopen the state at the end of the week.

Bottoms told MSNBC’s “MTP Daily” on Tuesday that that she recognizes her powers as mayor do not supersede Kemp’s as governor. 

“But I do have the power of my voice,” she said. “And I am using my voice to encourage people: Follow the data, look at the science, listen to the health care professionals and use your common sense.”

“Please stay home,” the Atlanta mayor said. 

“Simply because we have hospital beds available doesn’t mean that we should work to fill them up,” she added.

Bottoms also called on her residents to utilize city services provided during the pandemic and said other government leaders should give their constituents “an incentive” to stay at home. 

“There’s nothing essential about going to a bowling alley during a pandemic,” she added. 

Georgia has confirmed 20,166 cases of coronavirus, which have led to at least 3,885 hospitalizations and 818 deaths as of Tuesday, according to the state’s health department.

GOP senators and former Trump administration officials have pressured Kemp and the state government to reconsider its decision to allow some businesses to reopen at the end of the week.

The state plans to allow businesses like gyms, nail salons and tattoo parlors to reopen as early as Friday while requiring adherence to strict social distancing and health guidelines.