Coronavirus Updates: Kemp Kicks Off Tour Meant To Encourage Masks

The state has seen a steady increase of new coronavirus infections in the weeks since Gov. Brian Kemp started lifting shelter-in-place restrictions in late April.

Ron Harris, Pool / Associated Press

Governor Brian Kemp says Georgia isn’t out of the woods when it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic as new cases and hospitalizations continue to rise.

He kicked off a two-day flyaround tour of the state Wednesday morning to encourage people to wear face masks and follow other public health practices in advance of the 4th of July holiday weekend.

“We were moving in a very positive direction. Summer hit, people were itching to get out after weeks and months of shutdown,” Kemp told reporters from a hanger at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport. “Quite honestly, folks got lackadaisical a little bit. We’re all guilty of that.”