HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — Alabama's mask mandate is set to expire on Friday, March 5, leaving many curious if Governor Kay Ivey will extend it.
One Huntsville pediatrician, Dr. Pippa Abston, says she thinks it will be a "big mistake" if Alabama rolls back its mask mandate.
Dr. Abston said, "I hope the mandate will be extended. I hope people will follow it. Even if it isn't, I think that masks are going to be something that we need to do until we really have enough population immunity."
Both Texas and Mississippi lifted their mask mandates and rolled back COVID-19 restrictions this week, but experts say it's still not time to let our guard down.
"When you're so close to the end of, you know, anything, that is when people can make mistakes and get sloppy and get in a hurry," said Dr. Abston. "This is not the time to get ahead of ourselves."
Experts say although the Johnson & Johnson vaccine has been approved and vaccine rollout is ramping up, we're still not close to herd immunity.
Even though COVID numbers are trending down in the state, Dr. Abston believes we could see another spike in COVID-19 cases if Alabama decides to lift the mask mandate.
For the most up-to-date COVID vaccine information, check out this WZDX story: Alabama COVID vaccine updates
WATCH: Alabama doctors weigh in on mask mandate set to expire Friday