Alabama Governor Kay Ivey announced on Friday that he had entered a state of “focused” emergency due to the surge in COVID-19 cases, but as the virus spread, he did not order any public health restrictions.
Ivey, a Republican, urged residents of Alabama to get vaccinated and said in a statement that the vaccine is “our greatest weapon against COVID.” Her order aims to meet the surge in demand by allowing hospital staffing flexibility and authorizing out-of-state practitioners to conduct business in Alabama. It also increases the capacity of the hospital, allows for alternative standards of care, and authorizes government meetings to be held remotely.
Ivey insisted that the focus of the emergency announcement is only to “reduce red tape” for medical staff who “are treating a new wave of patients in Alabama hospitals.” The order does not include any provisions related to masks or vaccines. The governor has repeatedly emphasized that there will be no new state authorizations, restrictions or blockades.
Ivey said in a statement: “I want to be very clear: there will never be statewide injunctions, closures, etc..” “The strategic goal of the state of emergency is to eliminate bureaucracy, minimize red tape, and let our doctors , Nurses and hospital staff can treat patients who come in.”
“Let me be clear: Alabama is still open for business,” she continued. “Alabamas do not need the government to tell us what to do or how to do. Unlike last year we hoped for a miracle, our biggest weapon against covid-19 today is a vaccine, so if you can, please roll up your sleeves and shoot. “
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The governor said she was “proud” of the 100% increase in vaccination rates in the past month, which happened with the state’s dramatic increase in virus cases. She said that the country owes “a huge amount of gratitude to those who vaccinated”.
Recently, the increasing number of COVID-19 hospitalizations has put pressure on Alabama’s health care system. The state reported 2,441 people hospitalized with the virus on Thursday, and this number is expected to soon exceed 3,000.The intensive care unit of many hospitals in the Montgomery area has reached capacity Montgomery Advertiser.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, although vaccination rates have been increasing, as of Friday, Alabama is still the least vaccinated state in the country. The state with the lowest vaccination rate is neighboring Mississippi.
If vaccination in Alabama continues to increase, the shortage of supplies does not appear to be a problem anytime soon. According to the Alabama Department of Public Health, about 1.7 million vaccine doses are still unused out of the 5.3 million vaccine doses currently delivered to the state.
Weekly newspaper Contact Ivey’s office for comments.
