By Zach Hester, Reporter • zach@southerntorch.com (Photo: Stephen Quinn/ABC 3340)
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — On Wednesday, Governor Kay Ivey (R-Ala.) announced another extension of the State of Alabama’s “Safer-At-Home” Order and mask mandate through Sunday, November 8.
The order, which was first issued in July, was set to expire on Friday, October 2.
Ivey stressed her desire to remove the mask order, but renewed it past through the upcoming national election to ensure a safe way to vote in-person and to keep the lowering of new cases going on.
“The mask order is working. Hospitalizations are decreasing,” said Ivey. “So to those who want to see the masks go away, I’m asking to be patient for a little while longer…I’d hate to see us pull back too quickly.”
Ivey also announced the guidelines in regards to visitation at long-term or critical care facilities would be changed. As of today, each resident or patient will be allowed one person or caregiver to accompany them.
On Monday, Donald Williamson, head of the Alabama Hospital Association, asked the governor to extend the mandate which he credits with “[mitigating] some of the positive tests” and lowering the overall spread of COVID-19 in the state. The Medical Association of the State of Alabama, which has over 5,000 physicians as members, also support the order’s extension.
According to the order, a “mask” is defined as any covering that covers both the nose and mouth. Exceptions are made for practical necessities defined by the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) including some exercise, voting, and religious worship, though masks are encouraged in all of those scenarios as well.
Earlier this week, a lawsuit filed by seven plaintiffs who claim to have suffered either emotionally, physically, or financially due to the mask order moved from Huntsville to Montgomery. The suit states that the governor’s order restricts certain freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution. Former Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore is representing the plaintiffs.
As of Wednesday morning, the State of Alabama had 154,701 cases of the novel coronavirus with 2,540 deaths reported.
DeKalb County is currently rated as a “moderate risk” county by the ADPH, indicating a downward trajectory of new cases for 7-13 days.
For more information, please visit alabamapublichealth.gov.
