Governor Kay Ivey has reopened Alabama’s economy.
At a press conference on Friday, Ivey announced that nearly all businesses in the state may reopen starting Monday at 5:00 p.m. In addition, she removed the prohibition on large gatherings, which will allow worship services to resume.
A few businesses remain in the restricted category, such as night clubs and movie theaters.
What will the new world look like? As part of lifting Ivey’s health order, the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) issued handy information sheets to assist businesses in planning their reopening. ADPH has issued guidelines for gyms, places of worship, restaurants and bars and close contact service providers. The guidelines set forth by ADPH largely mirror those contained in Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth’s 150-page Reopening Alabama Responsibly plan. Masks will continue to serve as essential gear for businesses and their employees. The City of Huntsville has a helpful do-it-yourself guide to making a cloth mask. UAB has posted advice on how to properly wear and clean masks. They are uncomfortable to wear. But they can do more harm than good if people potentially expose their faces to the virus by constantly touching and adjusting them from the outside. So UAB has some tips.
The father of reopening. Ainsworth was the first statewide leader to champion the cause of reopening Alabama’s economy. Pointing toward plateaued case numbers, ample bed space and devastating economic numbers, Ainsworth and State Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville) presented a plan for safely reopening several weeks ago.
On Friday, Ainsworth released a statement in which he commended Ivey and State Health Officer Scott Harris for “leveling the playing field” for businesses while mentioning the many Alabamians who have expressed to him a desire to reopen their businesses.
“Even with increased testing, the percentage of COVID-19 cases in Alabama has declined or remained stable since early April,” Ainsworth explained. “Evidence clearly indicates that the worst his behind us. It is now time to rebuild Alabama’s economy, reenergize our workforce, and redouble our efforts to Reopen Alabama Responsibly.”
Close to 450,000 Alabamians filed for unemployment since February. Ivey referenced this data point as one which influenced her decision to reopen the state. The COVID-19 crisis has been devastating to families and businesses in Alabama and across the country. Nationally, the unemployment rate has spiked to nearly 15%. While Alabama has begun the rebuilding process, the economies of every state in the nation are intertwined in some way. So the faster the rest of the country gets up and moving, the sooner Alabama can reestablish its economic position.
Congressman Bradley Byrne sounded this alarm yesterday morning.
It is time we stop the insanity and safely open up the American economy! https://t.co/hnb1cUFT6C
— Rep. Bradley Byrne (@RepByrne) May 8, 2020
Liability protection for businesses. Ivey amended her emergency order on Friday to provide certain liability protections to businesses, health care providers and other entities in dealing with COVID-19. This “Safe Harbor” order does not provide blanket immunity but aims at protecting against what policy makers have labeled as frivolous lawsuits.
Tim Howe is an owner of Yellowhammer Multimedia
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