ALABAMA, USA — Although covid cases are rising, no one is required to be vaccinated according to an Alabama bill passed in May.
A USA Today op-ed piece written by Dr. Ezekiel J Emanuel and other medical officials reports that the only way the country can end the pandemic is by companies mandating vaccines for their employees.
But this suggestion goes against Alabama state law.
On May 24, Governor Kay Ivey signed Senate bill 267, now known as Act 2021-493, into law.
The law states the following:
"No government, school, or business in Alabama may demand that a constituent, student, or customer, respectively, be vaccinated for COVID-19 or show proof of his or her vaccination for COVID-19."
Many also may wonder if the federal government can require someone to get vaccinated, and the answer is no.
Whether workplaces can require people to wear masks is a gray area under these rules.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a plethora of information on how to protect yourself and other from the coronavirus.
The virus can easily spread from person to person, so the CDC recommends you stay at least 6-feet apart from people not in your household. The virus is spread through respiratory droplets that are produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, breaths or talks, according to the CDC. Because of this, the CDC recommends you wear a cloth facemask when around others and in public.
Additionally, the CDC recommends that you frequently wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Symptoms to look out for include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, a sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting and diarrhea, according to the CDC.
Click here to find more COVID-19 information from the CDC.
If you suspect you have the coronavirus, you should seek out testing and self-quarantine.
Click here to find more COVID-19 information from the Alabama Department of Public Health.