A Message from Mayor Stimpson - May 21
May 21st, 2020
Good evening,
It is 9:15 p.m. Thursday, May 21, and I am writing to give you an update on the City of Mobile’s efforts regarding COVID-19.
As of tonight, there are 1,870 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Mobile County, out of 17,413 total tests. There are 107 deaths attributed to the virus.
Today was a major step in the recovery process as Gov. Kay Ivey announced that she is relaxing many of the restrictions included in her “Safer at Home” order. Specifically, athletic activities, theaters, childcare facilities and summer camps are now free to reopen, subject to physical distancing and sanitation guidelines.
The following changes are effective Friday, May 22 at 5 p.m.:
- Entertainment venues, such as arcades, theaters and bowling alleys can reopen
- Athletic activities such as practices, drills and conditioning can restart on May 23; competition allowed June 15
- Education institutions can reopen June 1. This covers trade and professional schools
- Childcare facilities can reopen without limitations on numbers
- Summer camps can reopen
The new order is scheduled to remain in place until July 3 at 5 p.m. Detailed guidelines for each of the specific businesses identified above are available by clicking here. https://alabamapublichealth.gov/legal/orders.html#adph
We support this measured step toward recovery and appreciate the careful consideration given by Gov. Ivey and Dr. Scott Harris of the Alabama Department of Public Health in making this decision.
It is important to remember that COVID-19 remains active within our community, and we each have a responsibility to follow the good health guidelines to prevent the spread of this deadly virus. Wear a face covering when in public, wash your hands and maintain at least 6 feet of distance from others when in public settings.
By following these steps, we can keep from getting sick and protect our most vulnerable citizens from infection. Coronavirus restrictions still remain in place for the following:
- Retail stores remain subject to 50 percent occupancy rules
- Activities at senior citizen centers are suspended
- Visitation remains restricted at hospitals and nursing homes
- Non-work gatherings still require people to maintain a 6-foot distance between each other
While we may expect new cases to occur in the days and weeks ahead, there are three factors that give us confidence that we can continue moving toward recovery.
The first is the fact that our local hospitals remain well prepared with ample capacity to treat COVID-19 patients. We are blessed in Mobile to have four local hospitals and one of the strongest health care communities on the Gulf Coast.
The second is that our testing capability continues to increase. Earlier today, I spoke with Brian Ward of Coastal Diagnostics, which has added a new testing machine capable of handling 1,000 tests per day with a 24-hour turnaround. This will be a great resource for our health care providers in addition to our existing labs.
The third is our growing ability to conduct “contact tracing,” which enables us to rapidly identify and stop the spread of potential infections. Alabama took a huge leap today by becoming one of the first states to sign on to a new, COVID-19 exposure notification tool developed by technology giants Apple Inc. and Google.
The system can notify users if they have come into contact with a person who has tested positive for coronavirus. It’s a very innovative use of technology and we applaud state officials for making this tool available to our citizens.
These resources are adding real power to our fight against COVID-19. We are stronger today than we’ve been at any point since this crisis began. We will keep doing our part to get smarter, stronger and better prepared to serve you - and we won’t stop looking for opportunities to help.
I know that many of these changes are stressful. Like you, I am concerned about the very real health risks we face as a result of this virus, as well as the financial harm that it is causing for so many of our families. Please remember to pray for the suffering, and be thankful for our first responders and health care heroes who are working around the clock to protect us.
I wish you a peaceful night’s sleep. Rest assured that we made progress today. We will recharge and continue that progress tomorrow. Take care of yourselves, your loved ones and your neighbors. We are getting through this, together.