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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Why is it that health officials will not give us more information about who is infected?

Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) cannot disclose patient information due to HIPAA. COVID-19 is a four-hour notifiable disease, by law, in Alabama. People who have COVID-19 (cases) are investigated by ADPH Infectious Disease and Outbreak Division (COVID-19 Investigation Team), and the case goes under home quarantine, unless hospitalized where they are also under quarantine. People who are in close contact (contacts) identified as part of the investigation are notified and placed under home quarantine as well. Places of employment or businesses are contacted as part of the investigation. Cases and contacts are not allowed to be out in public until instructed by ADPH that they may do so.