Georgia lieutenant governor encourages people to wear masks

by Marty Johnson - 07/17/20 9:55 AM ET

Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan (R) on Friday encouraged all Georgia residents to wear a mask amid the coronavirus pandemic, days after Gov. Brian Kemp’s (R) move preventing cities and local communities from ordering residents to wear masks.

“My appeal here is for everybody in Georgia, everybody in the country, when you leave your home, go put a mask on,” Duncan told CNN’s Alisyn Camerota on “New Day.”

“We’re in the middle of a crisis,” he added, “and it’s not going away.”

Kemp has also encouraged people to wear masks but has argued that orders that people wear masks are not enforceable, and as such should not be issued.

Kemp and state Attorney General Chris Carr (R) on Thursday sued Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) for mandating that all Atlanta residents wear masks while in public.

Kemp has previously issued an executive order forbidding local Georgia communities from issuing mask orders.

Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan encourages everyone to wear a mask as Gov. Brian Kemp is suing Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms over the city’s mask mandate.

“My appeal here is for everybody in Georgia, everybody in the country, when you leave your home, go put a mask on.” pic.twitter.com/7Zml4IDBhw

— New Day (@NewDay) July 17, 2020

“This lawsuit is on behalf of the Atlanta business owners and their hardworking employees who are struggling to survive during these difficult times,” Kemp tweeted.

This lawsuit is on behalf of the Atlanta business owners and their hardworking employees who are struggling to survive during these difficult times. (1/4) https://t.co/vxiOmteHaH

— Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) July 16, 2020

Kemp has come under criticism for his executive order. Other governors from both parties have moved toward issuing requirements that people wear masks amid rising numbers of COVID-19 cases.

Atlanta isn’t the only Georgia city to pass a mask mandate in recent weeks.

Savannah Mayor Van Johnson (D) also issued a mask mandate and expressed his consternation with Kemp’s lawsuit against Bottoms.

“It is officially official. Governor Kemp does not give a damn about us,” he tweeted Wednesday night. “Every man and woman for himself/herself. Ignore the science and survive the best you can.”