The fighting words were exchanged as virus cases in Georgia reached higher than ever this week, with an average of more than 3,100 cases announced each day. About 1,100 of those, on average, are being identified in the Atlanta area, across four of the state’s most populous counties. There have been feuds in other states over masks and restrictive measures meant to stamp out the virus, but in Georgia the clash between Mr. Kemp and Ms. Mr. Kemp has claimed the legal authority to set the rules statewide, while Ms. “Governor Kemp is making a legal argument that is correct,” said Brian Robinson, who was a spokesman for Nathan Deal, the former Republican governor.

Source: International New York Times July 17, 2020 23:26 UTC