‘Masks are still required here’ | Savannah mayor will ignore Kemp’s ban

After days of discussion about Georgia’s new ban on mask mandates, Gov. Brian Kemp and Savannah Mayor Van Johnson are at a crossroads.

Johnson spoke with Craig Melvin of the “TODAY” show Friday morning, further emphasizing his stance remains on implementing and enforcing his city’s mask mandate despite it being deemed “illegal” by Kemp. Johnson doubled down on his support for the city’s mask mandate. On Thursday, Kemp’s administration filed a lawsuit seeking to block Atlanta from enacting coronavirus restrictions and requiring residents to wear masks. A lawsuit has not been waged against Savannah yet.

»MORE: Kemp’s office seeks to block Atlanta mask mandate in court

“Masks are still required here in Savannah, and we will enforce it, period,” Johnson said. “... We opened up on April 24, which was far too early. We put thousands of lives at risk. It makes absolutely no sense.”

"Masks are still required here in Savannah and we will enforce it, period," Savannah Mayor @MayorJohnsonSAV weighs in on the mask debate happening in Georgia where the governor has made an executive order banning mask mandates. pic.twitter.com/WgxBNtQSJx
— 3rd Hour of TODAY (@3rdHourTODAY) July 17, 2020

Earlier this week, Johnson spoke about the spike in cases in Savannah.

“In May, we had 266 confirmed cases for the entire month of May. In June, we had 809 cases. To this date in July, we’ve had more than 1,000 cases, new cases,” Johnson said Tuesday.

“In early June, approximately 4% of tests that the coastal health district administered was positive for COVID-19, and that number is now around 9.5%,” Johnson said.

Johnson said he was not sure why there would be an issue with his city and other cities requiring masks because so many other communities across the country are under those orders.

“We know from science that masks work,” he said during the Friday morning interview. “I don’t know what the big deal is and what the big confusion is about.”

Several supporters of Johnson’s stance responded to his comments Friday.

Praying for @MayorJohnsonSAV @KeishaBottoms and the state of ATL. It is a shame that something so simple and is proven to keep us and others safe has become so political. I absolutely agree, we need to protect Aunties, Big Mamas and everyone that we love. It is respect.
— Diane D G (@ddgndallas) July 17, 2020

@GovKemp Since you are not suing the male mayor of Savannah, the white mayor of the city of Decatur, nor the white mayor of Avondale Estates. But you are suing @KeishaBottoms and the predominantly black city council of Atlanta, We consider this an act of sexism and racism.
— Sann is With Her! 🌊💪🏾 (@WorldFamedAKA) July 17, 2020

Some expressed that Johnson’s mandate was not enforceable.

I think @GovKemp helped you out. He said wear masks but we’re not going to make them mandatory since this isn’t China and government shouldn’t do that. Also I’ve driven to downtown Savannah on multiple occasions in the last week and most people aren’t wearing them.
— Goran (@Goran1510) July 17, 2020

Melvin also asked Johnson if he feared a lawsuit. Johnson said he was not concerned.

“We’ve got lawyers,” he said Friday. “We’re going to do everything we can to protect our citizens.”

»COMPLETE COVERAGE: CORONAVIRUS

About the Author

Stephanie Toone

Stephanie has been telling stories her whole life. Her interest in the written word started with short stories and journal entries about run-ins with classroom bullies as a child and matured to writing for her high school newspaper over the years. She has written and edited for The Tennessean, Augusta Chronicle and American City & County.

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