Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp on Thursday signed an executive order that prohibits local governments from ordering businesses to adopt mask or COVID-19 vaccine mandates, saying the measure is necessary to “protect” private businesses. The executive order bars local officials from mandating the orders, but allows private businesses to require masks or vaccines, Kemp told reporters during a press conference. “There are some across our state who want to go back into lockdown mode,” the Republican governor said, noting the current indoor mask mandates in Atlanta and Savannah. “Local governments will not be able to force businesses to be the city’s mask police, the vaccine police, or any other burdensome restriction.” The order comes as the state on Thursday reported more than 7,000 new CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus cases, and 46 deaths, state data shows. That’s up from 5,000 cases and 42 deaths on Wednesday. A recent surge in CCP …