Amid Statewide Reopening, Jefferson County Keeps Entertainment Venues Closed
Jefferson County Health Officer Dr. Mark Wilson speaks about COVID-19 during a press conference in May 2020.
Entertainment venues across Alabama reopened Friday, but not in the state’s most populous county. Jefferson County Health Officer Dr. Mark Wilson ordered them to remain closed until June 6. The directive applies to theaters, museums, nightclubs, and similar establishments where people gather in large numbers. Wilson said the decision was made in conjunction with State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris, even as Gov. Kay Ivey allowed entertainment venues to reopen in other parts of the state.
At a press conference, Wilson said he made the decision because “of the increasing numbers of cases, and the increasing number of people in the hospital with COVID-19.” The total hospitalizations in Jefferson County was 130 at the time of the announcement, up from 103 two weeks earlier. The latest data show that two to three people are dying per day in Jefferson County from COVID-19.
“Even though things are opening up, it does not mean things are better in our community,” Wilson emphasized.
Wilson commended the community’s testing efforts and reiterated the importance of wearing face coverings in public. Face coverings are mandatory in Birmingham through May 29th. Wilson said increased testing capacity will allow the county to begin more preventative measures. This includes rolling out new programs in confined communities such as homeless shelters, jails, and treatment centers. Wilson also encouraged “high contact” workers, such as cashiers, wait staff, and retailers, to get tested even if they don’t have symptoms.
Jefferson County is the only county to keep entertainment venues closed, even though infection rate remains lower than many parts of the state.
How a forgotten tape recorder led to Tunde Adebimpe’s debut album
The TV on the Radio cofounder talks about making Thee Black Boltz.
A dad accused of killing his 3 young daughters is on the run. Here’s what to know
Travis Decker is accused of suffocating his daughters during a recent camping trip in Washington. Authorities say the Army veteran is "well versed in wilderness survival" and considered dangerous.
Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world, Pew study says
The Pew report reveals how religious disaffiliation and population growth have influenced the global religious landscape.
Canceled climate grants would have cut pollution while boosting production, jobs at two Alabama ironworks
The U.S. Department of Energy rescinded $3.7 billion in clean energy grants last month, saying the projects selected would not generate a positive return on investment.
Cold case mystery ‘Dept. Q’ focuses more on the characters than crime
An Edinburgh police detective and a team of misfits search for a woman who vanished several years earlier. Critic John Powers says the byplay of characters makes Dept. Q worth watching.
Gunman kills 9 in a mass shooting at a school in Austria
"There are no words to describe the pain, the disbelief and the grief that all of Austria feels right now," said the country's Chancellor Christian Stocker. "Our country has fallen silent in horror."
