A Message from Mayor Stimpson - June 24
Jun 24th, 2020
Good evening,
It is 9 p.m. on Wednesday, June 24 and I am writing to give you an update on the City of Mobile’s efforts regarding COVID-19.
Mobile County saw an increase of 103 new COVID cases since yesterday. That’s the single largest increase since we recorded our first case on March 19, and about 35 more than our previous high.
No way around it – this is an alarming spike in new cases. It follows a steady increase over the past few days, and we will need to watch the numbers closely in the days ahead. What is driving this increase? Health experts say the virus is spreading most rapidly among young people aged 18-29.
If there is a silver lining, it’s that many of these patients are asymptomatic, so that the number of hospitalizations and deaths remain relatively low. The danger, however, is that these young people will spread the disease to older citizens who are at greater risk for severe illness.
This trend is not unique to Mobile. The State of Alabama added 954 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, the second highest increase since the start of the pandemic. Eleven of the top 12 days in Alabama have come in the month of June.
Mobile is just behind Montgomery and Jefferson counties for most total cases. Montgomery and Jefferson counties each added 87 new cases Wednesday.
We must all do more to prevent the spread of the virus. COVID is preventable if we will just follow the safety guidelines as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control:
Keep a safe distance of at least 6 feet from others
Wash your hands regularly
Wear a mask when shopping or when in public places
Clean any surfaces around you
In recent days we have heard from downtown business owners about a problem of large gatherings of teens congregating in the Downtown Entertainment District at night.
In response, the Mobile Police Department announced today that beginning Friday, June 26, curfew enforcement in the Downtown Entertainment District will be heavily monitored and imposed.
There will be no warning to minors (persons 17 years of age or younger) that are out between 10 p.m.-5 a.m. in the Downtown Entertainment District. A fine of $100 for the first offense and up to $500 for the second violation will be enforced.
The primary purpose of enforcing this curfew is to prevent juvenile crime. There is less chance to commit crime or become a victim of crime if minors are home during the nighttime hours. But we also hope will help to stop the spread of COVID-19.
For those of you with teenage children, I hope you will take the opportunity to talk with them about the importance of obeying the law and using good judgement.
When it comes to the health and safety of our community, we all have a part to play. As always, our top priority remains keeping you safe.
Sincerely,
Sandy Stimpson