7. Mobile struggling to get people to actually practice social distancing
- With the coronavirus in the United States, many states have ordered people to stay home. In Alabama, many cities are trying to get people to distance themselves from others as much as possible, but Mobile is struggling to get citizens to stay away from crowds.
- Mobile City Councilman Fred Richardson said that he’s seen public parks “packed out,” and he’s said that if they “don’t come up with something, we’ll be fighting this virus next year.” The city council has voted to adopt a resolution to prohibit congregating.
6. Saban wants you to stay home
- A public service announcement featuring University of Alabama football coach Nick Saban to let people know that they need to “wash your hands often, stay at home if at all possible” and to stay at least six feet away from people in public.
- These recommendations have been made by the Alabama Department of Public Health and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Saban ended the message reassuring people that “we will get through these difficult times.”
5. Birmingham ordered to shelter-in-place
- Birmingham City Council has voted to order citizens to shelter-in-place by request of Mayor Randall Woodfin, with Jefferson County having at least 90 of the 215 cases of coronavirus in Alabama.
- The order will remain in effect until April 3, but it notes, “Those purposes include work; visiting essential businesses like grocery stores, financial institutions and gas stations; retrieving curbside pickup from restaurants.” This is a little different than what most are doing already but not following it could get you 30 days in jail and a fine of up to $500.
4. Majority approves of how Trump has handled coronavirus
- A new Gallup poll shows that a majority of Americans approve of how President Donald Trump has handled the coronavirus outbreak, with 60% approving.
- If split into parties, 94% of Republicans approve of Trump’s handling of the virus and 27% of Democrats approve. Trump’s overall approval rating is at 49%.
3. No shelter-in-place order for Alabama, according to Ivey
- Governor Kay Ivey and Alabama Department of Public Health’s Dr. Scott Harris answered questions over a conference call about the coronavirus in Alabama, and Ivey said that there are no plans as of right now to put out a “shelter-in-place” order for the state.
- Ivey stressed that “we are not California, we’re not New York, we aren’t even Louisiana,” adding that she’s focusing on keeping the state’s “economy going as much as possible while we take extraordinary measures to keep everyone healthy and safe.”
2. Trump hopes to open the country back up by Easter
- While in an interview with Fox News’ Bill Hemmer, President Donald Trump discussed the coronavirus and said that getting people back to work is “absolutely possible” by Easter, but that things like social distancing, not shaking hands and washing your hands would have to continue, though.
- Trump also discussed the possible long term effects that a shutdown could cause, saying that some people could “lose their jobs maybe to never get them back” and that people “are going to lose their businesses never to get them back.” He added, “The cure is worse than the problem.”
1. Stimulus deal is finally reached
- A $2 trillion stimulus deal has been struck between the White House and congressional leaders to provide stimulus to a battered American economy. The hope is that it will stop businesses from firing workers and will give confidence to the American people.
- Included in the package is $1,200 for most citizens, an additional $500 per each child, $500 billion for loan distressed companies, $50 billion for airlines, four months of unemployment benefits (including the self-employed). The deal also allows the Small Business Administration to serve as a guarantor for loans of up to $10 billion so they can pay payrolls and debts. Additionally, the bill provides $130 billion for hospitals and $150 billion for state and local governments that are cash-strapped due to their response to the coronavirus.