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CORONAVIRUS IN GEORGIA: What’s happening today -- March 26, 2020

By WSBTV.com News Staff
By WSBTV.com News Staff

Here’s a roundup of what’s happening so far today, March 26: (Click here for the previous day)

We’ll bring you LIVE updates every hour on Channel 2 Action News. Get extended coverage on the free WSB Now app on Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV.

[SPECIAL SECTION --> Latest on coronavirus in Georgia and around the world]

  • There are now 1,643 confirmed coronavirus cases and 56 deaths in the state of Georgia. The Georgia Department of Public Health said 509 total people have been hospitalized with the virus.
  • The Georgia Department of Labor said unemployment claims for the week of March 15-21 increased to 12,140 initial claims. That’s up 6,695 from the previous week’s 5,445 claims.
  • Mayor Bottoms says an angel donor has donated a hotel to house the homeless during the coronavirus crisis that may need a place to isolate.
  • The 84th Annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival is now scheduled to take place in Piedmont Park from Aug. 7 through Aug. 9. The festival will be joined by the already-scheduled World Diversity & Inclusion Festival and 5K in the park for the August outdoor celebration, bringing a stronger, larger audience to both events.
  • Georgia’s Speaker of the House has asked the Secretary of State to move Georgia’s primary election to June 23 or later.
  • In a letter to Brad Raffensprerger, House Speaker David Ralston said: “Pushing the primary back a month or more gives us more time to allow the situation to improve so that voters can vote in the manner in which they are most familiar. More importantly, it would make our highest priority the health and safety not only of voters, but our hard-working poll workers and elections officials.”
  • The City of Forest Park has enacted a curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. for all residents with the exception of “exempt individuals.” In addition, all restaurants, gyms, etc must close until 11:59 p.m. on April 10, 2020.
  • 15 Georgia students who were previously trapped in Peru, are now back home. After eight days of appeals to the United States government, local representatives, the media, and the public, the students boarded a chartered flight Wednesday that delivered them to the Miami International Airport that night and then home to Georgia.
  • Gov. Kemp announced all Georgia public schools will remain closed through at least April 24.
  • The U.S. Senate unanimously passed $2 trillion stimulus package. It will head to the House for vote Thursday or Friday.
  • Atlanta television stations are working together to bring the people of Georgia “The Governor’s Statewide Town Hall.” The one-hour primetime special will air live March 26th at 8:00 p.m. on WSB-TV Channel 2, CBS46, Georgia Public Broadcasting, 11 Alive, FOX 5 Atlanta and Univision 34 Atlanta.
  • The Fulton County Board of Health has launched its COVID-19 Hotline. County residents can call the hotline for answers to general questions: 404-613-8150 Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Repair shop trades wrenches for sewing kits to make masks for first responders Employees at Flyin? Wrench Motorsports and Tint Atlanta in Kennesaw are working overtime to make face masks.

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