Woodfin declares State of Emergency for Birmingham, asks for no groups of more than 25 people

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March 16, 2020

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin proclaimed a State of Emergency in the city of Birmingham due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

As of 1:28 p.m on Monday, there are 17 confirmed coronavirus cases in Jefferson County out of 28 total in the state of Alabama.

The mayor asked that there be no gatherings of more than 25 people, a request that is more stringent than the ones made by the state and national governments which ask for groups no larger than 50.

The Jefferson County Commission joined Woodfin in declaring a State of Emergency during a vote at an emergency meeting on Monday morning.

Woodfin released a statement to the public:

These are unprecedented times for our city and the world. We are working closely with public health experts to take the most effective steps to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our community. To every resident in Birmingham let me encourage you to remain calm and take the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and our state and local public health leaders. Working together, with calm and compassion for others, we will move through this situation.

Under the authority of the state code and general code of Birmingham, I am declaring a state of emergency in the City of Birmingham. Based on the information we have received from public health experts, I have determined it is in the best interest of the public and the City of Birmingham to recommend there be no in-person events that consists of 25 people or more in the City of Birmingham to reduce the spread and impact of COVID-19.

I urge the people of Birmingham to continue to observe CDC recommendations for social distancing and personal hygiene.

Woodfin advised Birmingham residents to text BHMCOVID to 888-777 for updates and information on the spread of the virus.

The Jefferson County Commission has also declared that restaurants, breweries and bars shall not permit onsite food or drink consumption for at least one week. That could be extended as needed.

Henry Thornton is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him by email: henry@new-yhn.local or on Twitter @HenryThornton95.