Governor Kay Ivey on Wednesday issued her twenty-sixth supplemental emergency proclamation transitioning the state from an amended Safer at Home Order to a new Safer Apart Order, the third phase of COVID-19 pandemic health orders. Masks will no longer be mandated statewide, but individuals are strongly encouraged to wear a mask or other facial covering when in public and in close contact with other people. This order goes into effect at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 9, 2021 and extends until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 5, 2021.

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How many employees are working on contact tracing and death investigations related to COVID-19?

The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) has at least 404 persons working in the COVID-19 investigative response, including contact tracing. Some persons working are ADPH employees from various disease control and related public health backgrounds. Other persons are from the University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) School of Public Health. ADPH is completing a contract with an entity to add more contact tracing as contract workers. ADPH staff members conducting death reviews are experienced nurses, epidemiologists, and public health physicians with primary care backgrounds. All deaths that occur in infants are followed up with a Fetal Infant Mortality Review through ADPH.