By Canadian Press

Bucking GOP trend, Alabama governor extends mask order

Mar 4, 2021 | 10:29 AM

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Breaking from other Southern GOP governors, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey extended her state’s mask order for another month Thursday but said the requirement will end for good in April.

Following the recommendations of medical officials, Ivey said she will keep the mask order set to expire Friday in place until April 9. The Republican governor said before lifting the order that she wants to get past Easter and get as much vaccine distributed as possible.

“The bottom line is we have kept the mask mandate in place for more than a generous period of time because it has helped,” Ivey said at a news conference.

Medical officials welcomed Ivey’s decision after recommending an extension, arguing that easing restrictions before more people were vaccinated could reverse recent improvements. Alabama’s rolling seven-day average of daily cases has dropped from 3,000 in early January to below 1,000 and hospitalizations are at their lowest point since summer.

“This is very good news. This gives us a month to vaccinate more people and to get a better handle on the role of the UK variant,” said Dr. Don Williamson, the former state health officer who now heads the Alabama Hospital Association.

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The governor noted the dramatic drop in daily case numbers and said the state is “rounding the corner” in the pandemic. She did ease a requirement that restaurants limit seating to eight people.

Ivey has faced political pressure to lift the mask order as some other Republican-led states have done. Texas and neighbouring Mississippi are easing health restrictions as vaccination numbers rise and illnesses linked to the new coronavirus decline.

Some social media users were sharing the phone number to the governor’s office and asking callers to voice opposition to the rule.

Republican Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth asked Ivey to end the mask requirement, which he has opposed all along, saying individuals can make decisions for themselves and follow safety rules until vaccinations and immunity levels are sufficient.

“But we can do all of these things without a Big Brother-style government mandate looming over us,” Ainsworth said in a statement.

The Alabama Senate on Wednesday evening approved a resolution urging Ivey to end the mask mandate.

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Follow AP’s coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.

Kim Chandler, The Associated Press