A Message from Mayor Stimpson - June 26
Jun 26th, 2020
Good evening,
It is 9 p.m. on Friday, June 26 and I am writing to give you an update on the City of Mobile's efforts regarding COVID-19.
Today we reported 52 new COVID positive patients in Mobile County, pushing our total to 3,295 to date. Of those, 286 have been hospitalized, 137 have died and 1,907 are presumed recovered.
This week we saw sharp increases in the number of new cases, setting new records for daily highs. In response, we are taking steps to protect public health.
Starting tonight we will begin enforcing a curfew for minors in the downtown area. The curfew is set for 10 p.m. - 5 a.m. in the entertainment district for minors who are 17 and under.
Today we also asked the City Council to approve an order requiring face coverings in public places to control the spread of COVID-19 in Mobile.
This step was necessitated by the rising number of COVID infections over the past week. There is no question that masks can prevent the spread of COVID-19. The virus is actively spreading in our community and remains a serious threat to public health,
We're serious about enforcement. As proposed, the ordinance carries a fine of $50 for the first offense and $100 for second and subsequent offenses.
We made this step in consultation with public health experts. They felt strongly that this ordinance is needed to stop the spread of COVID-19.
I'm pleased that Council President Manzie agreed to co-sponsor this ordinance. Thanks also to Councilman Daves and Councilwoman Rich for agreeing to sign on as co-sponsors.
We hope that the council will act swiftly to approve it on Tuesday. Time is of the essence.
These decisions are difficult but necessary to keep you safe. COVID-19 remains a top priority for my Administration and we have made tremendous strides to strengthen our hand in the fight against this deadly virus.
My prayer tonight is that you and your loved ones are safe and well. I hope you will find some time to relax and recharge this weekend. We have another full week ahead of us as we continue to work hard on a variety of issues facing our community.