By Zach Hester, Reporter • zach@southerntorch.com (Photo: Stephen Quinn/ABC 3340)

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — At a press conference on Thursday, Governor Kay Ivey (R-Ala.) announced the extension of the State of Alabama’s “Safer-At-Home” order and mask mandate through Friday, October 2.

The order was set to expire at the end of August after being extended last month. 

Ivey noted the drop in hospitalizations and cumulative cases of COVID-19 since placing the mask mandate in effect in mid-July. She also stated she had engaged with the White House Coronavirus Task Force Coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx on Alabama’s progress.

“Wearing a mask is simply the right thing to do,” said Ivey. “Ultimately, it is up to each individual to do our part. If not for ourselves, for our family and friends. We are seeing positive results from the sacrifices we are making.” 

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.

According to the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) on Thursday morning, the State of Alabama had 112,794 cases of the novel coronavirus with almost 2,000 deaths reported. Almost 1 million Alabamians have been tested since the start of the pandemic. 48,028 cases of the virus are labeled as “Presumed Recoveries.” 

DeKalb County is currently rated as a “low risk” county by the ADPH, indicating that COVID-like symptoms are declining across the area.

To read the full order and the adjustments made to it by Gov. Ivey, please visit alabamapublichealth.gov.