CORONAVIRUS IN GEORGIA: What’s happening today - March 24, 2020

GEORGIA — Here’s a roundup of what’s happening so far today, March 24: (Click here for the previous day)

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• The Georgia Department of Health says as of 7 p.m. Tuesday, there are a 1,097 confirmed cases of coronavirus, with 38 deaths.
• Health officials have confirmed the first death from COVID-19 in Clarke County. The Northeast Health District says a 67-year-old Athens man who had existing medical conditions died at a local hospital.
• Cobb County has declared a state of emergency and is ordering residents to shelter in place. The new restrictions go into place on March 25 at noon.
• President Trump says Senators working to pass $2 billion relief bill that will send cash payments to Americans.
• Trump says FEMA building temporary hospitals in New York, Washington states.
• Dr. Deborah Birx, White House coronavirus response coordinator says to still expect a spike in cases.
• Birx says there are “encouraging results” out of Italy. “Our new cases will continue to surge because we’re still working on our backlog" of tests.
• Birx says New York City remains a big concern, saying 56% off cases are from the city.
• Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Inc. will suspend production at its West Point, Ga. facility effective March 30. Operations will be halted for two weeks, including a previously planned shutdown April 6-10 for new model equipment changes. Production is planned to resume on Monday, April 13.
• While operations are suspended, KIA will perform additional cleaning and disinfecting processes of work stations throughout the plant.
• Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms signed 14-day stay at home order for the city of Atlanta.
• Gov. Brian Kemp issued an executive order to those who are “medically fragile” to shelter in place. Executive order goes into effect noon Tuesday and will end April 6.
• The Secretary of State announced he will be mailing absentee ballot request forms to every Georgia voter.
• 23 coronavirus testing sites have been set up on Georgia for people referred by a doctor. They are in Cartersville, Rome, Dalton, Woodstock, Gainesville, Marietta, Atlanta, Morrow, Lawrenceville, Stone Mountain, Newnan, Dublin, Warner Robins, Augusta, Columbus, Valdosta, Tifton, Albany, Douglas, Statesboro, Brunswick, Savannah and Athens.
• DeKalb County’s state of emergency went into effect at midnight. Here’s what that means.
• Fifteen cruise ship passengers who were in quarantine at Dobbins Air Reserve have been moved, according to the AJC. They are now at an old hotel building the federal government turned into a quarantine base.

Small businesses feeling impact of coronavirus closures One pizzaria owner is staying open and is concerned about his family back in Italy.

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