While Alabama has not flattened the curve quite yet, more non-essential businesses reopened today including salons, gyms, and restaurants.
Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle says it's up to everyone to make sure we stay on a good path.
"You have a personal responsibility to take care of your neighbors. You have a personal responsibility to take care of those who are at risk," said Mayor Battle. "You have a personal responsibility to make sure that you don't spread this virus, that you're doing what is in your power to keep it from spreading. If you do that, then we'll have a safe community."
Mayor Battle says they will continue to monitor local businesses as they reopen and will respond to complaints that come into city hall.
"Through the last eight weeks, we have had reports from natural resources," said Mayor Battle. "We started off with 10 to 15 reports or complaints a day, and we worked down to where we are at one or two a day now. I expect that to spike up a little bit as we open, especially personal contact places and restaurants."
Local health officials say they've seen people waiting to get the care they need and want to ensure people that hospitals are safe.
Dr. Pam Hudson, Crestwood Medical Center CEO, said, "We're taking all the precautions, all the things that we talk about, so don't delay essential services. Trust your health care providers."
Right now, Madison County hospitals are seeing a decline in COVID-19 patients, but they are still preparing for an uptick.
"Our challenge going forward is making sure we are ready if there is a spike in cases that come to the hospitals, but at the same time, be available for essential health care that is not necessarily as time sensitive," said Dr. Hudson. "We have been working on that for two or three weeks now when it looked like things were going to open back up again."
Huntsville Parks and Recreation facilities are partially back open. Close contact areas are still closed.
Watch the full May 11, 2020 Huntsville Madison County Press Conference here.
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