7. Florida already reopening beaches

• In a controversial move, Jacksonville, Florida beaches reopened and were quickly crowded with people eager to get out of the house amid the coronavirus pandemic, but there were no organized sports allowed and people had to stay moving to be on the beach.
• Many argued that this move was irresponsible and it’s too soon to reopen public areas, but Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said that he appreciates everyone’s “social distancing and responsible behavior as we opened our beaches for walking, swimming, running etc. No groups congregating.”

6. Montgomery is working to make PPE

• The Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce through TechMGM is working with manufacturers, students and Air Force innovation specialists to develop 3D-printed face shields for the Montgomery Emergency Management Agency.
• Tech MGM executive director Charisse Stokes said that they’re “uniquely positioned at the chamber to bring together these groups to maximize each of their resources, talents, and abilities,” and many schools will be participating including Alabama State University, Cornerstone Classical Christian Academy, and Prattville High School.

5. Alabama has had 1,200 people recover from coronavirus

• The Alabama Department of Public Health has announced that “preliminary data indicated that 1,200 cases have recovered” from the coronavirus.
• Unfortunately, the ADPH has had issues getting completely accurate data, but they are “looking at ways to report patients released from quarantine or patients recovered.” this will require resources like staff that are already working on preventing the spread of the virus.

4. Testing to increase so the country can reopen

• In an effort to allow the United States to reopen, Vice President Mike Pence has said that there will be an increase in testing across the country, saying, “[O]nce we activate all of the labs that can do coronavirus testing, is sufficient for any state in America to move into Phase One.”
• According to Pence, 150,000 tests are being done every day, but that number could increase to 300,000 if all labs are activated. Pence added President Donald Trump is “going to continue to fully partner with governors around the country and health officials in increasing and scaling the amount of testing and we have every confidence that we can have a sufficient amount of testing to be able to reopen America.”

3. “Reopen Alabama” rallies scheduled

• Across the nation, protesters are taking to the street to demand governors reopen the economy of states under orders to close non-essential businesses. Most of this is spurred on by ridiculous measures undertaken by various states with protests promoted by President Donald Trump as well.
• Rallies in Alabama will reportedly take place this week around Alabama with one happening Monday in Huntsville and another scheduled for Tuesday in Montgomery.

2. Legislators join call to open up the state

• While on Alabama Public Television’s “Capitol Journal,” State Senator Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) voiced his support for starting to open parts of the state that were closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth has recommended to Governor Kay Ivey that restaurants and retail businesses be allowed to open immediately.
• Orr did say that we need to do things “very cautiously, very carefully,” but he would like to see things changing before the end of the month so that some smaller businesses could open or at least elective procedures could be allowed again. He argued that the initial projections for how many coronavirus cases and deaths we’d see in the state didn’t happen.

1. It’ll be a couple more weeks before Alabama opens

• Alabama State Officer Dr. Scott Harris has said that it’ll likely be two more weeks before we see any parts of Alabama’s economy reopening, arguing, “It takes about two weeks to know if you are on the decline.”
• Harris said that in about two weeks “we’ll have a good idea of where we are” and can plan on when to reopen businesses, but that for now, we have to make sure we protect the “vulnerable” parts of the population.