The Yellowhammer State is two days away from the expiration of Governor Kay Ivey’s stay-at-home order.
Some clarity on how Alabama will reopen is expected later today (Tuesday).
Ivey’s office has announced that the governor will hold a joint press conference at 11:00 a.m. “to provide further updates on COVID-19.” Joining the governor will be State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris, as well as members of the executive committee of Ivey’s coronavirus Task Force.
Major employer reopening. Hyundai announced that its plant in Montgomery is resuming work. Production has stopped for more than four weeks. Even for those not employed at Hyundai, this provides a little bit of hope that reopening will actually happen.
As will be the norm, Hyundai will adapt its operations to allow for increased safety measures to limit the spread of COVID-19. New procedures and equipment will create proper spacing, masks will be required and hand sanitizing will be prioritized. Only one shift at a time will have access to the building, and everyone will walk past heat-detecting cameras to help identify fevers.
344,381. That is how many Alabamians have filed unemployment claims since mid-March. During the week ending April 18, 66,432 of the state’s residents filed for unemployment. Seven counties had more than 2,000 claims. Jefferson County led the way with 9,611. The U.S. Department of Labor reported 4.4 million claims nationally during the same week.
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Eating out. The restaurant industry eagerly awaits the time when it can safely reopen. While takeout has been available, not every restaurant’s operations and menu are adaptable to that setup. The U.S. Private Sector Job Quality Index estimates that as many as 10 million jobs in restaurants and bars could be in peril. To get an idea of what restaurant guidelines may look like during reopening, Georgia has published a list of 39 requirements for the industry. They involve the full gamut of common sense COVID-19 guidelines such as no more than six people at a table, health screenings, staggered shifts and discarding out-of-date foods. The ways in which Georgia has reopened its restaurants, hair salons and other businesses have given Alabamians a glimpse into their future.
Tim Howe is an owner of Yellowhammer Multimedia
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