Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Thursday extended the state’s mask mandate, but the ordinance will no longer be in effect come April 9, she said.
The governor’s stay-at-home order, which is set to expire April 30, shutters nonessential businesses, closes beaches, and institutes 50% capacity limits on retail stores, among other provisions. There has been an estimated 31% decline in cases in Alabama over the past two weeks, with a 27% dip in virus-related deaths and a 44% drop in hospitalizations.
“As of Tues., AL has seen the lowest avg for daily new #COVID19 cases & hospitalizations since June. Y’all, this is definitely an indication we’re moving in the right direction. I want to thank Alabamians for their tremendous help & support to get us where we are,” Ivey wrote in a tweet. “Even with this positive news, Dr. Harris & I believe more Alabamians need to get their 1st shot before we take a step some other states have taken to remove the mask order altogether & lift all restrictions. Folks, we’re not there yet, but we’re getting close.”
She continued, “Our new, modified order will include several changes that will ease up on some of our current restrictions, while keeping our mask order in place for another 5 weeks, until April 9. After April 9th, I will NOT keep the mask order in effect.”
GOV. GREG ABBOTT ALLOWS TEXAS TO REOPEN ‘100%’ AND ENDS MASK MANDATES
Ivey joins governors from Texas and Mississippi in pledging to loosen coronavirus protocols. On Tuesday, Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas and Gov. Tate Reeves of Mississippi removed their state-sanctioned mask mandates and vowed to allow all businesses to operate without capacity limits or other social distancing measures.
“This must end,” Abbott said during a press conference in Lubbock. “It is now time to open Texas 100%. Everybody who wants to work should have that opportunity. Every business that wants to be open should be open.”
President Biden criticized the moves from the Southern states and likened them to “neanderthal thinking,” drawing ire from the conservative leaders.
“The last thing — the last thing we need is Neanderthal thinking that in the meantime, everything’s fine, take off your mask, forget it. It still matters,” he said Wednesday.
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“It’s critical — critical, critical, critical — that they follow the science: Wash your hands, hot water, do it frequently. Wear a mask and stay socially distanced. And I know you all know that. I wish the heck some of our elected officials knew it,” he continued.
