VALDOSTA, Ga. (WTXL) — Georgia Governor Brian Kemp is touring the state, spreading the message to wear face masks while visiting South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta on Wednesday.
Kemp says he doesn't think a mask mandate is necessary, saying he trusts Georgians to do the right thing by wearing their masks and social distancing.
With around 160 testing sites in the state, he says they have noticed the surge in COVID-19 cases which is why he has decided to get out and remind people of the dangers of the virus.
Kemp said the state is not out of the woods yet and urges people to be cautious and "hunker down."
His focus now is on one group of people, young adults who may not have symptoms.
"Fifty-three percent of the positive test in their testing site is 18 to 30-year-olds," said Kemp. "So if we can get that crowd, along with everybody else, to double down on these practices, social distancing and wearing a mask."
Kemp says when the state initially reopened two months ago COVID numbers went down.
He believes they are seeing major upticks in cases due to people relaxing safety precautions with the start of summer.
Kemp also said he is not currently considering any rollbacks in businesses like bars as the state bar capacity is only 35 percent, saying bars should be able to socially distance.
