Kay Ivey expected to announce future of COVID-19 stay-home order

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Governor Kay Ivey speaks at a coronavirus update briefing in the state capitol building in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday April 14, 2020. (Mickey Welsh/The Montgomery Advertiser via AP)

Kay Ivey is expected to make an announcement Tuesday regarding the future of state closure orders because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Ivey and State Health Officer Scott Harris have scheduled a Tuesday morning news conference along with members of the governor’s coronavirus task force. Alabama is under a stay-home order through April 30.

Ivey spokeswoman Gina Maiola said previously that the state would probably hear an announcement early this week “as to how Alabama will gradually phase in business.”

Facing political pressure to follow the aggressive plans of other Southern states — including Georgia, which began reopening businesses Friday — Ivey had stated the decision to reopen will be driven by data.

State Health Officer Scott Harris said last week that the state at that time hadn’t quite met a White House recommendation of 14 days of declining cases before proceeding to the first phase of reopening.

The Alabama Department of Public Health reported Monday that Alabama had more than 6,400 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and more than 215 reported deaths.

Ivey has signaled that any reopening would be done in phases.

For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in weeks. For some, especially older adults and those with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including life-threatening pneumonia.

Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.