Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Wednesday announced her state would allow its mask mandate to expire in the coming days following a downturn in coronavirus cases.
The face-covering order will expire at 5 p.m. on Friday, and the governor has placed residents into the “Safer Apart” phase, which is a “greatly slimmed down” version of previous health guidance, Ivey wrote in a tweet. Those in Alabama are still mandated to quarantine if they’re sick, but businesses, nursing home facilities, and other entities are subject to a series of recommendations, including maintaining 6-feet distances and engaging in sanitizing protocols.
Wearing a mask is strongly encouraged but not required by the state.
As I’ve previously stated, Alabama’s mask order will expire at 5 p.m. on April 9. Today, I’m announcing our state will then enter into our Safer Apart order, which will be in effect until May 5 at 5 p.m. https://t.co/B1yVWJwEj3 @ALPublicHealth #alpolitics 2/8 pic.twitter.com/TvKoLIut3K
— Governor Kay Ivey (@GovernorKayIvey) April 7, 2021
“Because of your personal responsibility & strong adherence to safety protocols, we’re finally rounding the corner,” Ivey wrote. “We aren’t there yet, but we’re in the home stretch.”
BIDEN CALLS ON GOVERNORS TO REIMPOSE MASK MANDATES AS CORONAVIRUS CASES RISE AGAIN
Alabama has experienced a 31% drop in positive cases and a 14% dip in hospitalizations over the last two weeks. Deaths, however, are up 30%.
“As of Mon, AL has seen the lowest avg for new #COVID19 cases & hospitalizations since the spring of 2020,” the Republican governor wrote. “Y’all, this is definitely an indication we’re moving in the right direction. Thank you, Alabamians, for your tremendous help & support to get us where we are.”
As has been happening in other states, Alabama opened vaccinations to all residents over the age of 16 this week. A total of 15% of Alabama’s population has been inoculated with both doses, while 26% have received at least one shot, equating to roughly 1.2 million people.
Several states have lifted mask mandates since the onset of the pandemic, including Arkansas, Indiana, Texas, Wisconsin, Montana, and Wyoming. The moves go against guidance from President Joe Biden, who has called the easing of restrictions “reckless behavior.”
“I’m reiterating my call for every governor, mayor, and local leader to maintain and reinstate the mask mandate,” Biden said on March 29, warning that inaction meant more deaths. “Please, this is not politics.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
He continued: “Our progress on vaccination is a stunning example that there is nothing, nothing this country cannot do if we put our minds to it, and we do it together,” he said. “But I’ve also said, I will always give it to you straight, straight from the shoulder. Our work is far from over. The war against COVID-19 is far from over.”
