Jefferson County Health Officer Dr. Mark Wilson told the public on Friday his department is not planning to implement any coronavirus orders stronger than those in place statewide.
While speaking at a virtual COVID-19 briefing hosted by the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Wilson was asked if he was “planning another shutdown order that is stronger than what is in place for the state”
“Currently, we are not planning any shutdown orders. We really don’t want to have to do that,” Wilson said in response.
“I would rather not be in a situation where it is Jefferson County doing something alone when we are part of a greater metropolitan area,” he added.
As a holding of decades-old laws, the health departments in Jefferson and Mobile Counties are independent of the Alabama Department of Public Health.
As a result, they have greater authority than that of Alabama’s other 65 counties. The independence granted to Jefferson and Mobile allows their health officers to implement stricter countywide health orders during times of emergency if they wish.
Alabama is currently experiencing record levels of coronavirus cases and hospitalizations. Experts fear an even further exacerbation could occur if the public travels and gathers in large groups over the Christmas holiday.
“What we are pleading with the public to do is to help us by being extremely careful right now,” remarked Wilson on Friday.
Wilson and Mobile County Health Officer Dr. Bernard Eichold implemented shutdown orders shortly before the state did in March — orders that were ultimately superseded by Governor Kay Ivey and State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris.
“I really don’t want to be in that sort of terrible situation where we have to think about doing that again,” Wilson said Friday.
“We do need to support our businesses,” he noted.
“The best way to do that is to be as safe as possible in all of your practices,” he advised, urging the wearing of masks and continued social distancing.
Henry Thornton is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him by email: [email protected] or on Twitter @HenryThornton95.
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