'It's pretty dire': Montgomery mayor says there are 'just a handful' of ICU beds left as Alabama reopens theaters, summer camps, and daycare
recently warned that the entire state of Alabama could see a resurgence of the virus over the next month as reopenings continue. earlier this month when she ended her stay-home order after just four weeks.
On May 11, salons and gyms reopened and restaurants resumed serving customers in their dining rooms. Ivey is quickly loosening other restrictions, including allowing groups of all sizes to gather, as long as people remain six feet apart. Theaters, music venues, daycare, and summer camps areThe mayor thinks the state is reopening too quickly. "I would have preferred a slower reopening, a more cautious reopening," Reed told Insider. But, he added, "we're here now and we're going to have to manage the circumstances." He said the business community and others influencing Ivey's decision have been impatient to get back to normal and don't want the government telling them what to do. Ivey conceded that Alabama's infection rate was "not as good as we would hope" during a Thursday press conference announcing the reopenings. But, she argued, "We cannot sustain a delayed way of life as we search for a vaccine. It's not realistic to believe we're going to keep everyone totally isolated from each other."The mayor said he and other state and local leaders should be ready to issue a new stay-home order if the situation continues to deteriorate or there's a new wave of infections down the line. But he warned that without help from the federal government on testing and contact tracing, localities may not be able to fight off a resurgance of the virus. "I'm not sure cities and states, much less small businesses, are going to be able to adequately deal with a second wave, should one come at another point this year due to an outbreak or another surge in cases, if there's not a different approach to this virus," he told Insider. Reed says many in his city and state are "letting down their guard" and beginning to go about life as normal as the state reopens. He's urging his constituents to stay home as much as they can and is considering implementing new restrictions in the city. As of Thursday, Alabama had 13,288 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 528 deaths, according to data published byA call for federal help Montgomery's first-ever African-American mayor, Reed said he wants the country to recognize that black and Latino communities are suffering disproportionately from the public health and economic crises because of systemic inequality. "The nation has to acknowledge the racial disparities don't exist because people don't want to do their part to narrow that gap," he said. And more broadly, working-class and lower-income Alabamians don't have the resources to ride out an extended crisis. As a result of the pandemic, the city of Montgomery is facing a 20 to 25% revenue shortfall this year, which will require the government to cut funding for a range of social services. Reed wants the federal government to send funding for cities and states — something congressional Republicans have pushed back on. The mayor argued that, without federal support, already underfunded local governments will fail their citizens and inequality will deepen. "How are we going to address education in this community? How are we going to bridge the digital divide? How are we going to make sure that those who are already on the margins don't fall of a cliff?" he said. "I think national leaders have to understand that it's going to be very vital that they make the decision to reinvest in this country." Do you have a personal experience with the coronavirus you'd like to share? Or a tip on how your town or community is handling the pandemic? Please emailfrom Business Insider Intelligence on how COVID-19 is affecting industries.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
NYU will reopen in the fall for in-person classes - Business InsiderBusiness Insider is a fast-growing business site with deep financial, media, tech, and other industry verticals. Launched in 2007, the site is now the largest business news site on the web.
Read more »
The county said yes. The state said no. A pancake house opens anywayThe Original Pancake House in Norco has seen a surge in business since reopening its dining room last week.
Read more »
Lululemon, Nordstrom stores won't take cash as they reopen - Business InsiderBusiness Insider is a fast-growing business site with deep financial, media, tech, and other industry verticals. Launched in 2007, the site is now the largest business news site on the web.
Read more »
Inside California's beautifully bizarre Winchester Mystery House - Business InsiderBusiness Insider is a fast-growing business site with deep financial, media, tech, and other industry verticals. Launched in 2007, the site is now the largest business news site on the web.
Read more »
The county said yes. The state said no. A pancake house opens up anywayThe Original Pancake House in Norco has seen a surge in business since reopening its dining room last week.
Read more »
Independent SAGE group: Schools should not reopen in June - Business InsiderBusiness Insider is a fast-growing business site with deep financial, media, tech, and other industry verticals. Launched in 2007, the site is now the largest business news site on the web.
Read more »