President Parker says Council will vote on citywide mask ordinance during April 6th meeting

With Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signaling that the statewide mask order will expire on April 9th Birmingham City Council President William Parker said the Council will be voting on a citywide ordinance this coming Tuesday.

The ordinance will be similar, if not identical, to the ordinance passed by the body last year in the early months of the pandemic. The citywide ordinance expired once Governor Ivey established the statewide order last July.

Health experts warn that another wave of infections is possible as case numbers continue to rise in 27 states across the country. In Jefferson County, the number of new daily cases has plateaued at roughly 70 cases a day for the last several weeks.

President Parker urges residents to remain diligent as vaccination efforts continue to outpace new cases in Jefferson County.

“This has been a tough year for all of us and I know wearing a mask in public has become tiresome, but now is not the time to relax our efforts,” Parker said. “The science is clear: wearing masks and social distancing works in preventing the spread of this virus.”

The ordinance would put the measures in place for at least 30 days. More details on the specifics of the ordinance will be released once finalized.