By Erica Thomas, managing editor
MONTGOMERY — Alabama Governor Kay Ivey held a press conference on Tuesday, June 30, 2020, to update citizens on the situation concerning coronavirus.
A Safer at Home Order was set to expire on Friday, July 3. However, Ivey extended the order to be in place until Friday, July 31.
“We are still in the thick of this virus, disease and it is deadly,” Ivey said.
Ivey said hospitals are not yet overwhelmed. As of June 29, there were 715 patients hospitalized with coronavirus.
Ivey said it is next to impossible to enforce a mask order, but she hopes Alabamians do the right thing.
“When you’re in public, for goodness sake, wear a mask,” she said.
State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris, state Representative Dexter Grimsley and Greenville Mayor Dexter McLendon joined Ivey for the press conference.
Harris said the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) would roll out a color-coded map on its website, representing the spread of COVID-19 for each county. The map will be updated weekly.
“We hope you will get to look at that and understand what’s going on in your own community,” Harris said.
Grimsley said he lost his sister early on to coronavirus. He is pleading with Alabamians to do their part in stopping the spread of the virus.
“We do know that we can protect ourselves from COVID-19,” said Grimsley. “We know we can protect others from COVID-19.”
In Alabama, there have been 926 confirmed deaths so far due to coronavirus, according to the ADPH.
Grimsley challenged others to wear a mask.
I urge you, in the strongest way I know how, to incorporate #COVID19 precautions into your daily routine. You are strongly encouraged to maintain a 6-foot distance & to wear a mask when out in public. #TogetherAL 4/5 pic.twitter.com/oGRgXW5kkF
— Governor Kay Ivey (@GovernorKayIvey) June 30, 2020