7 Things: Alabama public health official praises state on national TV, schools could reopen this summer, sheriff refuses to enforce ‘Safer at Home’ order and more …

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May 4, 2020

7. Biden denies sexual assault allegation

For a little too long, former Vice President Joe Biden stayed silent on the allegation that he sexually assaulted former Senate aide Tara Reade in 1993, and now for the second time he’s said that “it never happened.” Both times took place on MSNBC.
While Biden has said that there should be a search in the National Archives for anything relating to the allegation, and at first he was unwilling to allow the same search for his senatorial papers at the University of Delaware, he has now said there should be a search in those files as well.

6. Ted Cruz: Coronavirus shows that China is the main threat to the United States

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) is one of the most recent people to advocate for the United States to take a look at the country’s relationship with China due to their handling of the coronavirus, saying that they are the “most significant geopolitical threat to the United States for the next century.”
Cruz states that “we know they covered it up” when the pandemic started, adding, “China bears enormous responsibility, enormous direct culpability for this pandemic.” A current investigation announced by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence is looking into whether the virus originated in a Wuhan lab.

5. State Rep. Allen wants churches and small businesses open

In a video, State Representative Wes Allen (R-Troy) is asking that Alabama Department of Public Health’s Dr. Scott Harris allow churches, barbershops and salons to open, noting that “it doesn’t make much sense to me that our liquor stores and our big-box retail stores are open.”
Allen said that the sanitation, capacity and social distancing requirements could remain in place while these businesses and churches open up, but “it’s time to allow our barbers and our salons and our churches to be able to reopen immediately.”

4. Will Ainsworth: It’s time to reopen the state

Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth has been outspoken throughout the coronavirus pandemic, and now he’s calling on Governor Kay Ivey to reopen many other businesses before May 15, which is when the “Safer at Home” order expires.
Previously, Ainsworth’s Alabama Small Business Commission Emergency Task Force released its “Reopening Alabama Responsibly Phase One” plan that would’ve had most businesses open by May 1. Now, Ainsworth has tweeted, “Open Up Alabama safely, it’s past time.”

3. Blount County won’t enforce Ivey’s new order

The “Safer at Home” order Governor Kay Ivey put out doesn’t allow any restaurants, bars, churches, salons, barbershops or entertainment facilities to open up, and Blount County Sheriff Mark Moon has already said he’s instructed officers “not to stop businesses or churches who violate” the health order.
State Senator Shay Shelnutt (R-Trussville) has already thanked the sheriff for what he’s doing, and it should be noted that Moon also serves as the pastor for Countyline Baptist Church in Trafford. Cullman Daily News reported that Moon felt he “cannot force himself to go after the hard working people and churches for doing what they feel is the best thing for them, their families or congregations.”

2. Alabama schools could open in June

With the coronavirus pandemic far from over and parts of the country looking to open up, the Alabama Board of Education is considering opening up some school programs as early as June for students attending summer school and athletic programs, but this could change.
What this finally looks like is not completely clear. Alabama State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey told Alabama Media Group, “Starting June 8th we could have older kids, 13 and older, coming onto campus in groups of 10 or fewer, for basically summer practice and workouts.” Younger students would be coming back on July 6.

1. Dr. Scott Harris is confident in Alabama

With the “Safer at Home” order in effect and retail stores being allowed to open at 50% capacity, there are many who have said the state slowly reopening is too soon, while others argue that it’s not happening fast enough, but Dr. Scott Harris of the Alabama Department of Public Health remains confident that the state is taking the correct steps during the coronavirus pandemic.
During an appearance on NBC News, Harris said that Alabama has been following guidelines put out by the White House and others in the plan to reopen. Harris added that he would like to have more testing available broadly across the entire state as we reopen, saying, “But in some of our more rural parts of the state, we are able to get testing done, but there are definitely barriers there for people to obtain that.”