Tuscaloosa To Close All Bars And Prohibit Alcohol Sales
Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox announced Monday a prohibition on alcohol sales and the closure of all bars for the next 14 days.
This comes after photos circulated on social media of unmasked parents and students during bid day celebrations last Sunday. More recent photos show unmasked students not social distancing outside popular local bars such as Gallettes.
Who wants college sports this fall??
— Greg Byrne (@Greg_Byrne) August 16, 2020
Obviously not these people!!
We’ve got to do better than this for each other and our campus community. Please wear your masks!pic.twitter.com/OAFocYZwin
Under the the executive order, restaurants in Tuscaloosa can still sell alcohol but only at seated tables. All bars in restaurant will be closed.
“Fall in Tuscaloosa is in serious jeopardy,” Maddox said.
Maddox said if nothing is done to curb the spread of COVID-19, DCH Regional Medical Center, the local area hospital, would be stretched beyond its capacity in the next four to six weeks.
“If we do nothing, UA will be forced to go to virtual classes, and the economic consequences will be harsh and long lasting,” Maddox said.
UA President Stuart Bell said the closure will help stop the spread of the virus and keep students on campus throughout the semester.
“We know that early intervention has the best chance of changing the trajectory of where we’re going,” Bell said. “Our challenge is not the students, our challenge is the virus. And there’s a difference, folks … it’s not student behavior.”
Shortly after the announcement, Gov. Kay Ivey issued a statement of support.
“I appreciate Mayor Walt Maddox and The University of Alabama leadership for tackling a serious problem as quickly as possible,” Ivey wrote. “If we do not act expeditiously, it leaves the potential for a situation to get out of hand, which would require even tougher, longer-lasting decisions to be enacted.”
According to the Alabama Department of Public Health, cases among 18-24 years old increased slightly in the last week from 13.86% to 13.89% of all cases across the state.
GuideSafe, a program that aims to test 200,000 higher education students across the state, said as of Thursday only 0.75% of students tested positive for the virus.
Only a handful of colleges and universities in Alabama have publicly reported the number of new coronavirus cases on their campuses. The University of Alabama has yet to release its campus-specific data. President Bell said the university plans to release its data soon.
Meanwhile, coronavirus cases across the state appear to be on a decline. But numbers released this morning show an uptick in weekly reported cases compared to the week before in conjunction with fewer completed tests.
USDA chief says agency is trying to fill key jobs after paying 15,000 to leave
Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins says the department will consider bringing back some employees who took the government's deferred resignation offer.
Trump picks Casey Means for surgeon general, after first nominee withdraws
Dr. Janette Nesheiwat withdrew her nomination for Surgeon General after questions about her credentials. Dr. Casey Means has a medical degree from Stanford and a best-selling book on metabolic health.
Energy Star, efficiency program that has steered consumer choice, targeted in cuts
An Environmental Protection Agency plan to eliminate its Energy Star offices would end a decades-old program that gave consumers a choice to buy environmentally friendly electronics and save money on bills, consumer and environmental groups said.
In the wake of tariffs, cargo at the Port of LA is down 35%
The immediate impact of the cargo decline affects virtually every business around the ports, but port officials say this downturn will soon be felt much more broadly.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ fame posed challenges during jury selection
Nearly 100 potential jurors were whittled down to a group of 45 on Wednesday ahead of the mogul's case for racketeering and prostitution. For many, his outsized celebrity was an issue.
How a visit from actor Jon Voight led Trump to post about movie tariffs
Since he announced his intention to impose a 100% tariff on movies made outside of the United States, President Trump has hedged, saying he's open to meeting with industry leaders.
