HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — This week, the Madison County Board of Health issued an order to require face coverings be worn in public places. It's expected to be finalized and signed next week. City and county leaders expect this as well and are discussing plans for enforcement.
Here are the facts from the Huntsville/Madison Chamber of Commerce:
- Madison County is labeled as “very high risk” in a new color-coded map the Alabama Department of Public Health released this week.
- In early June, the Huntsville Hospital system had fewer than 26 COVID-19 patients. As of yesterday, that number was 121.
- Some of the patients in Huntsville Hospital are children, including a 5-month-old child and another who is a St. Jude cancer patient with COVID.
- More than 1,000 people were tested this week in Madison County, and about 10 percent were positive for the virus.
- Drive-through testing will start back next week at John Hunt Park, to accommodate the increased need for testing.
The Chamber said, "As cases have risen increased in our community, our hospitals are becoming strained. David Spillers of Huntsville Hospital and Pam Hudson of Crestwood Medical Center were candid with us this week in our Zoom call with membership. We must get a handle on prevention and help stop the spread before medical providers are overwhelmed. Hospital leaders and health officials urge the use of face coverings to prevent the spread of the virus."
The Chamber also asks businesses to implement face covering if they have not already.
Health officials say that at this time, face coverings, social distancing, and good hand hygiene are the best ways to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Post your mask pictures using the hashtag #maskuphsv to show that you're taking steps to protect the people around you, as well as yourself.
