Atlanta Mayor on Gov. Kemp Reopening Georgia:'We Can't Sit By…While People Die'

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Bottoms said the decision by Georgia GOP Gov. Brian Kemp to reopen the state during the coronavirus pandemic could bring on a sharp rise in deaths, during an interview Monday on CNN.

"As I look at people standing in line for haircuts and to get their nails done, what we are essentially saying in Georgia is, 'Go bowling and we'll have a [hospital] bed waiting on you.' That's not what our approach should be to COVID-19," Bottoms said during an interview on CNN's Cuomo Prime Time on Monday. "Who knows where we're going to be next week?"

On Friday, the governor allowed hair salons, gyms, bowling alleys and tattoo parlors and other businesses to reopen. Then on Monday, dine-in restaurants and movie theaters were also allowed to continue conducting business, as well.

So far, Georgia has seen 24,767 confirmed coronavirus cases, including 1,032 deaths, according to the state's health department site. Fulton and Dekalb Counties, which both encompass the city of Atlanta, have seen a total of 4,596 cases. 

Upon learning about Kemp's decision to reopen the state, President Donald Trump said during a press conference that he "strongly" disagreed with the Georgia governor's decision.

"Grady Hospital in downtown Atlanta is near capacity because people are having strokes and they have diabetes and they have asthma-like my four children have. And then you add on top of that, COVID-19," Bottoms said.

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