Alabama governor orders statewide mask mandate due to COVID-19. ‘Numbers don’t lie.’
While Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves has resisted implementing a statewide mask order, Alabama’s governor on Wednesday announced one for her state as COVID-19 numbers continue to rise.
Saying “numbers don’t lie,” Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said her executive order will be in effect from 5 p.m. Thursday through July 31.
Masks must be worn in three different places outlined in the order
▪ A vehicle operated by a transportation service
▪ An indoor space available to the public
▪ An outdoor space where 10 or more people are gathered
No local governments will be able to opt out of the order.
Violators can face a $500 fine or jail time.
Alabama’s seven-day average for new coronavirus cases is 1,597. The state announced 40 new deaths on Tuesday.
Reeves last week announced a mask mandate for 13 counties that have seen recent spikes in COVID-19 numbers, including Harrison and Jackson on the Coast.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has also not issued any kind of mask mandate. The governor’s statewide emergency coronavirus order expires Wednesday.
Violators in Mississippi are subject to a $500 fine and up to six months in prison, but it is up to local law enforcement to enforce Reeves’ executive order.
This story was originally published July 15, 2020 at 12:59 PM with the headline "Alabama governor orders statewide mask mandate due to COVID-19. ‘Numbers don’t lie.’."
