Story at a glance
- “We’ve kept the mask mandate in place for more than a generous period of time because it’s helped. We’ve seen dramatic results and real progress being made,” Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) said Thursday.
- Alabama this week saw its lowest average for daily new coronavirus and hospitalizations since June.
- The decision in Alabama stands in contrast to those made in Texas and Mississippi to rescind coronavirus restrictions, including mask mandates.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) has extended the state’s mask mandate for several more weeks as Texas and Mississippi made the decision this week to ditch mask mandates and lift coronavirus restrictions.
“A new modified order will include several changes that will ease up some of our current restrictions while keeping our mask order in place for another five weeks through April 9,” Ivey said during a news conference Thursday.
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“But let me be abundantly clear, after April the ninth, I will not be keeping a mask order in effect,” she added.
Alabama this week saw its lowest average for daily new coronavirus and hospitalizations since June. As of Tuesday, the state’s seven-day average for new COVID-19 cases was 778 per day, an 82 percent drop from a high in January.
Ivey said there’s no question mask-wearing has been a key tool in curbing the spread of the virus in Alabama and said she would continue to wear her mask even when the order is lifted in April. She urged residents to do the same.
“At that time, it will become a matter of personal responsibility and not government mandate,” she said.
She said businesses that believe wearing masks is important have five weeks to impose their own policies before the mandate expires.
“We’ve kept the mask mandate in place for more than a generous period of time because it’s helped,” she said. “We’ve seen dramatic results and real progress being made.”
Ivey also announced seating limits on restaurants will be lifted, outdoor programs at senior centers will be allowed to continue with restrictions and summer camps will be able to resume operations this year.
The decision in Alabama stands in contrast to those made in Texas and Mississippi to rescind coronavirus restrictions.
Both Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) and Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R) announced on Tuesday they were lifting mask mandates in their states and allowing businesses to reopen at full capacity, bucking the warning of public health officials that easing such mandates could lead to another spike in COVID-19 cases, especially as variants continue to spread.
The Republican governors have urged residents in their state to continue following health guidance to stop the spread of the virus, but say doing so is a personal responsibility the state government no longer needs to be involved in.
President Biden on Wednesday denounced the Republican governors’ decisions, calling it “Neanderthal thinking,” while Anthony Fauci said the decisions were “inexplicable.”
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