7 Things: Mask mandate gets expiration date, 1 million Alabamians vaccinated, much-promoted QAnon event never materializes and more …

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March 5, 2021

7. Legislation to change the State Health Officer

State Senator Jim McClendon (R-Springville) has introduced a bill that would make the State Health Officer position one that’s appointed by the governor and change it to the Secretary of Health. The bill has now been advanced by the Senate Health Committee.
Currently, the health officer is selected by a state public health committee. McClendon has claimed that changing the position in this way would make the health officer more accountable, but there is concern that it mixes politics in with a public health office and decisions.

6. Redstone Arsenal is opening more

Due to coronavirus cases continuing to decline, Redstone Arsenal has announced that they’re going to start bringing back more people to work on base. Currently, there have been about 25% of people allowed to work on base.
The announcement read, “Under HPCON Bravo,” the next phase of reopening they’re in, “the installation is postured to accommodate a larger percentage of the workforce processing through our gates as tenant commanders determine their organizations’ workforce requirements.”

5. 12 million fewer people could be getting stimulus checks

Despite promising voters that he would be delivering more stimulus checks, President Joe Biden’s coronavirus relief package actually gives the next round of $1,400 stimulus checks to about 11.8 million fewer adults than the previous round.
This change is due to altering the income eligibility within the relief package. The estimate released by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy showed how many fewer adults would receive a stimulus check, but also confirmed that those in the bottom 60% of income would remain within the same eligibility.

4. Lottery and casino bill likely to be voted on next week

The lottery and gaming bill by State Senator Del Marsh (R-Anniston) is likely to be voted on by the State Senate on Tuesday next week, and Marsh has been meeting with members of the House to get more input on the bill.
Currently, the most likely factor that would delay or kill the bill further is how many casinos will be included. There have been arguments for more casinos in different locations, such as Dothan, but Governor Kay Ivey is favorable to five casinos, according to Marsh. It’s expected that the bill will pass the Senate, but its possible future in the House is more uncertain.

3. QAnon was an obvious no-show, much to the disappointment of the media

In a surprise to no one, the purported QAnon siege on the U.S. Capitol that was promised for March 4 did not appear. The presence of troops was promoted and applauded, but no one truly believed the event was going to take place. This was security theater, and the media is still playing their role.
Just as troops were needed for Biden’s inauguration, the impeachment trial and a non-existent QAnon threat required a non-stop military presence,. Now, we are told the troops need to stay for two more months. It seems unlikely that the “threat” disappears after two months and Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) handpicked expert believes we need a non-stop military presence indefinitely.

2. 1 million vaccinated in Alabama

State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris has announced that so far, 1,003,396 people have received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine. It’s expected for those numbers to continue increasing dramatically over the next several days.
Alabama has received 100,000 new doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, and there will also be 40,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine sent to the state. J&J only requires one dose for someone to be vaccinated.

1. Mask mandate will finally end in April

Governor Kay Ivey decided to extend the statewide mask mandate, but she has also given the mandate a final expiration date of April 9. Ivey’s order is in line with what experts at UAB and the Alabama Hospital Association had suggested and requested.
Ivey said that “wearing masks has been one of our greatest tools in preventing spread of the virus.” In her announcement, Ivey also detailed that more visitors will be allowed at hospitals and nursing homes now, there will be no more limits on seating at bars and restaurants, and other restrictions have been removed.