Gov. Ivey Extends Mask Order Into 2021
Governor Kay Ivey is extending Alabama’s Safer-at-Home order until January 22, 2021. In making her announcement, she said there will be no additional changes or adjustments.
That means Alabama residents must continue to wear masks, wash their hands, and sanitize their personal spaces as much as possible. Alabama’s mask order was set to expire on Friday, December 11.
Ivey’s announcement comes amid a spike in new coronavirus cases and record-breaking hospitalizations. Ivey said the spike in COVID-19 cases means the state is in “some of our darkest days” as the surge strains Alabama’s hospital system. State health officer Scott Harris said there are at least 2,100 people being treated for the virus at hospitals across the state.
As of today, the Alabama Department of Public Health has reported more than 280,000 cases of COVID-19 and nearly 4,000 deaths.
Harris also announced the roll-out of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine which, he said, is expected to arrive in Alabama next week. Harris said the state will receive nearly 41,000 doses of the vaccine for distribution and another allotment of the vaccine will be sent to the state a couple of weeks later.
Harris said the state will also receive Moderna’s vaccine later in the month. The vaccine will likely be prioritized for frontline hospital workers and some first responders.
Alex Padilla recounts his removal from DHS news conference in emotional Senate speech
The California Democrat returned to the Senate floor Tuesday to warn that the Trump administrations response to immigration protests in Los Angeles should "shock the conscience of our country."
Alfred Brendel, the cerebral pianist with a dry wit, dies at 94
Routinely called a "musician's musician," the pianist had an atypical career that even he called mysterious. He spent it returning to a handful of favorite composers, with acclaimed results.
Sabrina Carpenter joins the ‘song of the summer’ race, just in time
"Manchild," the first single from Sabrina Carpenter's forthcoming album Man's Best Friend, enters this week's Hot 100 singles chart at No. 1, making a late-breaking bid for "song of the summer" status in the process.
Kraft Heinz to remove artificial dyes from all products, like Jell-O and Kool-Aid
By 2027, Kraft Heinz says all artificial food dyes will be replaced with natural colors. The move comes two months after federal officials called on food companies to stop using synthetic dyes.
Leader of top FEMA disaster coordination office resigns, as Trump moves to eliminate agency
Jeremy Greenberg was in charge of coordinating federal help after hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes and other emergencies. He has resigned from leading FEMA's National Response Coordination Center.
How Trump’s travel ban could disrupt the way knowledge about health is shared
Global health specialists talk about the consequences of the full or partial ban on travel to the U.S. from 19 countries.
