Ivey Announces Statewide Mask Mandate

Ivey Announces Statewide Mask Mandate

By Zach Hester, Reporter • zach@southerntorch.com (AP Photo | Vasha Hunt)

ALABAMA — On Wednesday, Governor Kay Ivey (R-Ala.) announced a mask mandate in the State of Alabama.

Masks or face coverings will now be required for Alabamians when you are within six feet of another person outside your household, a vehicle operated by a transportation service, or an outdoor public space where 10 or more people are gathered.

The order defines "mask" as any covering that covers both the nose and mouth.

Exceptions for the order include practical necessities defined by the Alabama Department of Public Health, some exercise, and voting or religious worship, though masks are encouraged in all of these scenarios as well.

Ivey reported over 2,000 new cases in the last 24 hours giving the State of Alabama 58,270 total cases with 1,183 deaths. She also stated the total number of cases has risen by 50 percent in the last fourteen days with hospitalizations increased significantly.

"Folks, the numbers just do not lie," said Ivey. "I continue to prefer personal responsibility over a government mandate...[but I believe] that personal responsibility is everyone's responsibility."

"Do the right thing, and wear a mask," Ivey concluded. No other mandates in the current Safer-At-Home order changes with this new order.

The statewide mask order goes into effect on Thursday, July 16 at 5 p.m. and will remain in effect until at least July 31. For more information, please visit alabamapublichealth.gov.

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