“It’s constitutional under the … Some municipalities have since adopted the requirement including Montgomery, Birmingham, Mobile, Tuscaloosa, Selma and others. It’s not about liberty, it’s about life.”. Ivey had long resisted calls for such an order saying there was no way to enforce it. It goes into effect Thursday at 5 p.m. and will remain in effect until at least July 31. On Tuesday, the governor’s office also confirmed Dr. Deborah Birx, a key member of the Trump Administration’s Coronavirus Task Force, would travel to Alabama to meet with Ivey. Do you have to wear a specific kind of mask? There are exceptions related to exercise as well: The order classifies voting and religious worship as exceptions. There are certain job functions where people won’t be required to wear a mask, including first responders or a business where wearing a face covering is inconsistent with industry safety standards. Any person who is voting or “actively providing or obtaining access to religious worship,” is not required to cover their face though masks are “strongly encouraged.”. No, the facial coverings can be factory-made, homemade or made from household items as scarves, bandanas or t-shirts. For instance, retailers are required to limit their capacity to 50 percent and have customers seated six feet apart. “We are not asking sheriffs or police offers to seek out people not wearing a face mask. Are there any other changes to statewide orders? Harris added that a full one-third of the state’s cases have been added in the last two weeks and that the number is not a reflection of increased testing as the percentage of positive tests is climbing. Alabama shattered its record with 147,000 successfully returned absentee ballots as of Tuesday. The state’s current amended Safer at Home order isn’t set to expire until July 31. One example of a reasonable step might be to post signs encouraging customers and patrons to wear a mask. Williamson added that he believes the state is now starting to see an uptick in the number of cases from July 4 gatherings, but not holiday-related hospitalizations, which typically lag. Copyright 2020 WSFA 12 News. All rights reserved (About Us). -Governor Kay Ivey has amended the state’s Safer at Home order to include a STATEWIDE MASK REQUIREMENT. Any person with a medical condition or disability that prevents them from wearing a mask, You don’t have to wear it while you are eating or drinking or seated at a restaurant to eat or drink. When do I have to wear a mask? BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - While in Auburn on Thursday, Dr. Deborah Birx - the head of President Trump’s coronavirus task force - said Alabama Governor Kay Ivey should extend the state’s face covering order. The penalty for violating the order can result in a $500 fine and/or jail time, Ivey said.