MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Governor Kay Ivey made major announcements about COVID-19 in Alabama.
The current Safer-at-home order, with a few modifications, will remain in place through August 31.
This includes an extension of the statewide mask mandate.
"Y'all we just must remain vigilant; if we're going to get our kids back in school and keep our economy. And wearing a mask can't hurt, but it sure can help. And more and more people are seeing this for what it is. A way to protect yourself," says Ivey.
Schools are encouraged to reopen with in-person instruction, with masks mandated by the state for ages 7 through college. Her message to schools that have gone virtual for the first nine weeks is that if things improve, they consider moving students back into classrooms.
"We don't have the luxury of not getting our young people back in school. While I respect those districts that have elected to go to virtual classrooms, I feel with all my heart that a slide will come by keeping our schools at home, especially if there are other options. And that slide is likely to have a negative, dramatic impact on our future," added Ivey.
Governor Ivey said that businesses need to remain open so that people can continue to earn a good livelihood.
State Health Officer Scott Harris said that right now hospitals statewide are managing the surge, but his office is also looking at alternative sites for health care. There is no specific number of cases in the state or in hospitals that would trigger emergency health care measures.
See Alabama's "Safer-at-home" order with July 29 update:
See Governor Kay Ivey's July 29 Supplemental Emergency Proclaimation:
<p style=" margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block;" ><a title="View Gov. Kay Ivey 15th Supplemental State of Emergency Proclaimation on Scribd" href="https://www.scribd.com/document/470806724/Gov-Kay-Ivey-15th-Supplemental-State-of-Emergency-Proclaimation#from_embed" style="text-decoration: underline;">Gov. Kay Ivey 15th Suppleme...</a> by <a title="View WZDX News's profile on Scribd" href="https://www.scribd.com/user/482143373/WZDX-News#from_embed" style="text-decoration: underline;">WZDX News</a> on Scribd</p><iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" title="Gov. Kay Ivey 15th Supplemental State of Emergency Proclaimation" src="https://www.scribd.com/embeds/470806724/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&access_key=key-TuzkfVFFl2HPBw01YqG1" data-auto-height="true" data-aspect-ratio="0.7729220222793488" scrolling="no" width="100%" height="600" frameborder="0"></iframe>