Ivey Extends Mask Order Into October

MONTGOMERY, AL — Gov. Kay Ivey announced Thursday she is extending the statewide mandatory face covering order initially set in place July 15. The order will extend to October 2.

The ordinance is part of the governor's Safer at Home order that was set to expire August 31 that includes health precautions such as retail stores operating at 50 percent occupancy, and restrictions on restaurants and bars, athletic facilities and close-contact service providers, such as hair and nail salons.

"I know you don’t want to wear the masks," Ivey said in her news conference Thursday. "I don’t either. My glasses fog up, I can’t understand what people are saying because of the muffle effect that the masks have on conversations. We all want to get back to normal, and the way to do that means wearing a mask."

Ivey pointed to improvements in COVID-19 numbers throughout the state since the mask order was put in place.

Alabama has confirmed 11,669 COVID-19 cases in the lat two weeks. By comparison, in mid-July the 7-day average for new cases was nearly 1,900. In the last week, Alabama has averaged around 750 new cases per day.

Ivey's Safer at Home order:

The Alabama Department of Public Health confirmed 684 new cases Thursday, and added 25 deaths to the state's total.

The counties reporting the most new cases Thursday:

• Jefferson County: 107 new cases; 15,175 total
• Tuscaloosa County: 55 new cases; 4,954 total
• Montgomery County: 54 new cases; 7,551 total
• Mobile County: 47 new cases; 11,778 total
• Madison County: 40 new cases; 6,048 total

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