Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has announced that he has withdrawn his lawsuit against Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.

Governor Kemp initially sued Mayor Bottoms after she moved to impose a city-wide mask mandate due to the sharp increase in coronavirus cases in Atlanta and its surrounding areas. Kemp said that the city was seeking to preempt the state’s own guidance that did not mandate facial coverings.

In a press release Thursday, Kemp said:

I sued the city of Atlanta to immediately stop the shuttering of local businesses and protect local workers from economic instability. For weeks, we have worked in good faith with Mayor Bottoms, and she agreed to abandon the city’s Phase One roll-back plan, which included business closures and a shelter in place order. Unfortunately, the Mayor has made it clear that she will not agree to a settlement that safeguards the rights of private property owners in Georgia. Given this stalemate in negotiations we will address this very issue in the next Executive Order. We will continue to protect the lives and livelihoods of all Georgians.

The new executive order issued by Governor Kemp does not mandate face masks. Rather is strongly encourages that Georgians wear face masks when they are not exercising or dining. The order also requires individuals, who the Centers for Disease Control defines as high risk, to shelter in place. Kemp’s order further requires restaurants, organizations and businesses to implement measures mitigate the spread of coronavirus among customers and employees. Lastly, the order allows the State Board of Education to promulgate rules for returning to the classroom. In addition schools are not required to comply with the ban on large gatherings, but they are required implement measures to mitigate the spread of coronavirus.

This executive order will remain in effect until August 31, 2020.