April 12, 2021 Group Watch: Ivey Issues “Safer Apart” Order
As the state’s COVID-19 numbers continue to plummet (see next article) and the statewide mask order has expired, the state of emergency over COVID-19 remains. Late last week, Governor Ivey announced her new Safer Apart Order, which encourages people to wear masks and practice social distancing. Mask wearing will not be mandated in the new order, but it does require quarantine for anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 and maintains some restrictions on hospital visitations. So far, Montgomery and Birmingham have extended their citywide mask mandates beyond the expiration of the statewide order. Ivey said that businesses have the right to set their own requirements. The state recently made vaccines available to all Alabamians 16 and older, and clinical trials of vaccines for children are still ongoing.
