MARIETTA, Ga. — The 34 Georgians that were among 250 passengers transported to Dobbins Air Reserve Base from the Grand Princess cruise ship off California last Wednesday have now been given permission to be transferred to their homes as soon as possible, according to Gov. Brian Kemp.
The passengers were being quarantined at the air reserve base after possibly being exposed to the novel coronavirus while they were on the cruise ship.
More than 3,000 people were kept on-board the ship, which was not permitted to dock in California after 21 people tested positive for coronavirus.
Last Sunday, Kemp said the Georgians, along with additional American citizens from the eastern United States who were on the Grand Princess were being securely transferred to Dobbins.
"The state now has permission to transfer the Georgians at Dobbins to their homes as soon as possible," Kemp tweeted early Saturday afternoon.
He said that officials from GEMA, the Georgia Department of Public Health and the Georgia National Guard are on hand to assist with the safe transfer with the Georgians to their homes.
"Well, I’ve just been going around talking to people. I’ve been smiling and just kind of being light-hearted,” Teresa Duncan Johnson said.
She said that’s how she made the time pass while under quarantine at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Cobb County. She said that when they finally get to leave, she and others will probably self-quarantine even longer than required.
We want to be sure we’re not infecting other people and I think that’s the general attitude of people here,” she said.
Johnson said she and her husband aren’t going home Saturday but pictures show some people at the base are already packed up and ready to leave.
She said being on the base has had its up and down moments where she felt communication wasn’t good and there didn’t seem to be a clear process.
“Because they’re learning as each day has gone by areas that they maybe need to improve on, and communication is a big part of that,” she said.
She said coordinating how people get home has been much smoother and she looks forward to heading back to Augusta. On Saturday, Kemp announced that the state would be getting help from about 2,000 National Guardsmen who would, among other things, help get Georgians home.
Even though she and others didn't show any symptoms, Johnson said that it's still important for them to be mindful of those around them and not risk exposing anyone else during the quarantine period.
On Saturday morning, Kemp addressed the state's newly-declared public health emergency in response to the spread of the coronavirus.
Over the past 24 hours, the state has seen its largest increase in the number of coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours, with the total number jumping to 66.
In Georgia, the risk of contracting COVID-19 remains low, according to officials. At 11Alive, we’re focusing our news coverage on the facts and not the fear around the virus. To see our full coverage, visit our coronavirus section, here: www.11Alive.com/Coronavirus.
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