Gov. Kemp: Atlanta's Face Mask Mandate Is 'Unenforceable'

ATLANTA, GA — Shortly after Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms signed an executive order this week to require residents to wear face masks in certain settings, Gov. Brian Kemp responded to the measure by calling it "unenforceable."

"We continue to encourage Georgians to do the right thing and wear a mask voluntarily. If the Mayor wants to flatten the curve in Atlanta, she should start enforcing the current provisions of the governor’s orders," read a statement from the governor's office to Fox 5 Atlanta.

Bottoms issued an executive order Wednesday night requiring people to wear a mask or a cloth face covering over their nose and mouth within the city in response to the rising number of COVID-19 infections. The order also prohibits gatherings of more than ten persons on city of Atlanta property.

"We will continue to take active measures to help slow the spread of COVID-19 infections in Atlanta," Mayor Bottoms said. "Public health experts overwhelmingly agree that wearing a face covering helps slow the spread of this sometimes deadly virus."

Kemp has encouraged the use of masks, but he has not required them. According to the AJC, he has signed a measure that prevented local municipalities from creating stronger provisions than those that are in his emergency order. The move could potentially bring Atlanta and other cities into legal conflict with the state, the newspaper noted.

Atlanta isn't the only city to issue a mask mandate. Savannah, East Point, Athens-Clarke County have also issued orders and other cities across the state could soon pass similar measures.

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• Atlanta Mayor Issues Executive Order Requiring Face Masks In City