Gov. Ivey Extends COVID-19 Mask Order
Gov. Kay Ivey extended a statewide face mask order through Nov. 8. The order requires face masks to be worn in public to try to limit the spread of coronavirus.
Ivey made the announcement at a press conference Wednesday. The rule was set to expire Friday, but the new deadline extends it past Election Day and much of the remaining high school and college football seasons.
The governor said she’s heard from many residents who are eager for the mask order to be lifted. Ivey said she wants to do that sooner rather than later.
“But the reason we are extending this mask order up until after the national election, which is November 3, is because it’s important to have a safe environment for our poll workers, poll watchers and those of us who would like to vote in person,” she said.
The Alabama Hospital Association and a doctor’s group earlier this week urged the governor to keep the mask order in place.
“The one thing that seems to have changed in the course of the pandemic is when the mask order was implemented,” said Dr. Don Williamson, head of the state hospital association. His group supports keeping the requirement through at least the end of the year.
Ivey said the state has made progress over the last two weeks in the fight against COVID-19.
“Thankfully, we did not have a surge in COVID-19, as was predicted, after the Labor Day weekend,”she said, “but my friends, this isn’t just luck or coincidence.”
Ivey attributed the decrease in hospitalizations and new daily cases to the statewide mask order she implemented in July.
Ivey also announced changes affecting residents in long-term care facilities, including nursing homes, and people who are hospitalized. The new rule allows people to be accompanied by one caregiver or visitor “unless there are compelling reasons to limit access.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Gulf States Newsroom is hiring an Audio Editor
The Gulf States Newsroom is hiring an Audio Editor to join our award-winning team covering important regional stories across Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.
Judge orders new Alabama Senate map after ruling found racial gerrymandering
U.S. District Judge Anna Manasco, appointed by President Donald Trump during his first term, issued the ruling Monday putting a new court-selected map in place for the 2026 and 2030 elections.
Construction on Meta’s largest data center brings 600% crash spike, chaos to rural Louisiana
An investigation from the Gulf States Newsroom found that trucks contracted to work at the Meta facility are causing delays and dangerous roads in Holly Ridge.
Bessemer City Council approves rezoning for a massive data center, dividing a community
After the Bessemer City Council voted 5-2 to rezone nearly 700 acres of agricultural land for the “hyperscale” server farm, a dissenting council member said city officials who signed non-disclosure agreements weren’t being transparent with citizens.
Alabama Public Television meeting draws protesters in Birmingham over discussion of disaffiliating from PBS
Some members of the Alabama Educational Television Commission, which oversees APT, said disaffiliation is needed because the network has to cut costs after the Trump administration eliminated all funding for public media this summer.
Gov. Kay Ivey urges delay on PBS decision by public TV board
The Republican governor sent a letter to the Alabama Educational Television Commission ahead of a Nov. 18 meeting in which commissioners were expected to discuss disaffiliation.
