Kemp Eases Georgia Virus Rules To Allow Sports, Conventions

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is lifting more health-related restrictions that stemmed from COVID-19, allowing spectator sports and live performance venues to reopen and conventions to resume on July 1, subject to some restrictions.

Kemp signed the 40-page-order Thursday, just before an earlier and more restrictive order was to expire. The new order, allowed under the health care emergency authority granted Kemp by lawmakers, runs through the end of June.

The move comes amid an uptick in reported coronavirus infections and deaths in Georgia. The state has recorded more than 700 daily infections, on average, for most of June. It’s the longest period that infections have run that high since early May.