Kay Ivey extends mask mandate until April 9

By
Beth Cann
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In this July 29, 2020 file photo, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey speaks during a news conference in Montgomery, Ala. Republicans balked when Democrats passed President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package, calling it liberal “pet projects” disguised as pandemic aid. But now that GOP governors and local leaders have the money in hand, they're using it for things on their wish lists, too. Alabama lawmakers are advancing a plan to use $400 million of the state's share of coronavirus relief funds toward building new prisons in what Ivey says is a great deal for taxpayers. (AP Photo/Kim Chandler, File)

Governor Kay Ivey today announced she will be extending the Safer at Home Order and the statewide mask mandate. The mask mandate will end on Friday, April 9, 2021. Individuals will be required to wear a mask or other facial covering when in public and in close contact with other people until then.

The full Safer at Home Order has been extended for sixty days, which means it doesn’t end until May 7, 2021. However, Ivey emphasized the she will not keep the mask order in effect after April 9, 2021. Other changes include allowing summer camps to resume, lifting restaurant seating restrictions, and expanding retirement home visitors allowed from one to two people. 

Will Ainsworth and other Alabama leaders urged Ivey to lift the mask mandate after other states like Texas and Mississippi lifted all restrictions for their states. 

Ivey posted on Twitter, “Our new, modified order will include several changes that’ll ease up on some of our current restrictions, while keeping our mask order in place for another 5 weeks, until April 9. After April 9, I will NOT keep the mask order in effect.”

 

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