Coronavirus: Ivey To Issue Timeline For Opening Alabama's Economy

MONTGOMERY, AL — Gov. Kay Ivey addressed residents Tuesday about when the state will begin to open its economy again, as her stay-at-home order expires in just two weeks. Ivey stressed in her address that any re-opening of businesses and activities must be done responsibly.

"I cannot overemphasize the importance of what we are doing," Ivey said. "Now is not the time to let our guard down. We have been working on a plan for several weeks, but this is not a simple process, not like flipping on a light switch."

Ivey said she has spoken with all of Alabama's congressional delegates and said she wants to look at the issue on a district by district basis. "Our house delegation will have their report by April 22," Ivey said. She said she will use that information to put together a timeline to open the economy, and which segments of the economy can open.

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Dr. Scott Harris of the Alabama Department of Public Health said he feels the stay-at-home order enacted March 28 has made a positive impact on the coronavirus numbers in Alabama. "We are encouraged by these numbers," Harris said. "We are where we had hoped to be at this point."

"We want to get folks back to work as soon as we can but also as smart as we can," Ivey said. She emphasized that because all industries are different, and all regions of the state are different, the plan to re-open the state's economy would include a case-by-case and -region-by-region plan.

When asked about expanding Medicaid, Ivey said, "It would be irresponsible to expand it just to expand, without a serious conversation about how to pay for matching, state expenses."

Ivey ordered all nonessential business closed March 28, which included Alabama's entertainment venues, museums and beaches. As of Tuesday morning, more than 2,700 cases of the coronavirus had been confirmed by the Alabama Department of Public Health. The ADPH has also reported more than 100 deaths.

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