Name: Gov. Kay Ivey loosens coronavirus restrictions on theaters, athletic events, child care
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Gov. Kay Ivey loosens coronavirus restrictions on theaters, athletic events, child care

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Montgomery AdvertiserView CommentsGov. Kay Ivey on Thursday said existing bans on large entertainment venues, athletic activities, and school and child care facilities would end at 5 p.m. Friday, so long as they adhere to distancing guidelines meant to stem the outbreak of the coronavirus outbreak.The amended Safer At Home order further loosens steps taken to control the outbreak of COVID-19, even as data from the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH)&nbsp;shows continued increases in 7-day and 14-day averages in the state.&nbsp;"Today is the next step in what has seemed like a long and difficult process of reopening our economy, while we remain true to the fact that this is a deadly, serious disease," Ivey said at a Thursday press conference.&nbsp;Ivey and ADPH&nbsp;have cited a need to begin reversing the economic damage from the outbreak in lifting the restrictions.&nbsp;The governor said at a May 8 press conference that Alabamians were "vigilant and abiding by the rules" when it came to social distancing.The state's total caseload stood at 13,058 as of early Thursday afternoon, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health. 528 Alabamians had died from the virus.The amended order allows entertainment venues&nbsp;to open subject to social-distancing and sanitation rules, as well as child day care facilities and summer camps. Educational facilities will be allowed to reopen on June 1 for summer activities. Athletic practices will be allowed starting May 23, with competitive games allows on June 15."Reopening Alabama only works if we work together cooperatively," said State Health Officer Scott Harris on Thursday, who stressed the use of masks, limits to travel, and social distancing.&nbsp;Restrictions on visitations to hospitals and nursing homes remain in place. Retail stores remain subject to 50 percent capacity, and restaurants, bars and breweries must maintain 6 feet of distance between tables and limit seating.Alabama's 7- and 14-day case averages have steadily risen since April 29, according to ADPH figures. The Black Belt has been hard hit compared to the rest of the state: over the last two weeks, the 18 counties of the predominantly African-American region averaged 239 cases per 100,000 people, against 82 per 100,000 for the state as a whole.Montgomery County had 1,003 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of early Thursday morning, with 488 cases occurring in the last two weeks.&nbsp;Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed on Wednesday said that Montgomery and Prattville hospitals had a single ICU bed available as of Wednesday morning, and urged people to continue to follow distancing guidelines, particularly ahead of the Memorial Day weekend.&nbsp;"If you’re from central Alabama and you need an ICU bed, you may not be able to get one," he said.&nbsp;"We don’t want to lose anyone —&nbsp;any life —&nbsp;because we don’t have the resources to treat them in this community.”A Baptist Health spokeswoman said&nbsp;in a statement Thursday that its Montgomery-area hospitals have 80 ICU beds with availability "ever evolving," and said that they had sent patients to Birmingham, but not for COVID treatment. Harris said Thursday hospitals could employ other beds as ICU beds if needed.&nbsp;"I would say hospitals frequently from time to time have issues like this, and they normally work those issues out between themselves," he said.Ivey said Thursday there were "a legitimate number of concerns with large number of people being hospitalized" and said she reserved the right to reverse the decision in the future. But she said the state had to live with a "new normal" when it came to the virus, and said "letting businesses collapse" was "not an option."More:"Just as we’ve had to learn to live with the flu&nbsp;and other viruses for which there is no known cure, it is unrealistic to think we will be able to keep people totally isolated from one another forever," she said.The outbreak has also brought the state's economy to a halt, with more than 500,000 Alabamians filing for unemployment since the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in the state in March. Citing concerns over the economy, Ivey&nbsp;lifted most restrictions on businesses and personal movement in the state effective May 11, though large entertainment venues remain closed off, as do senior citizen centers.&nbsp;More:Staff writer Brad Harper contributed to this report.Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Brian Lyman at 334-240-0185 or blyman@gannett.com.View Comments

Montgomery AdvertiserView CommentsGov. Kay Ivey on Thursday said existing bans on large entertainment venues, athletic activities, and school and child care facilities would end at 5 p.m. Friday, so long as they adhere to distancing guidelines meant to stem the outbreak of the coronavirus outbreak.The amended Safer At Home order further loosens steps taken to control the outbreak of COVID-19, even as data from the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH)&nbsp;shows continued increases in 7-day and 14-day averages in the state.&nbsp;"Today is the next step in what has seemed like a long...

Gov. Kay Ivey loosens coronavirus restrictions on theaters, athletic events, child care

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