Alabama

With the number of Coronavirus cases in Alabama approaching 1,500 and 21 confirmed deaths, Governor Kay Ivey issued a "Stay-at-Home" order for the entire state effective at 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 4. The order allows limited travel for certain necessary activities, such as traveling to work at an essential job, seeking medical assistance, checking on relatives, or to buy groceries or medical supplies. The order also provides for fines and/or penalties for violations of the order. To see the full text of the order, visit Governor Kay Ivey's website.

At approximately 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 1, Alabama officially recorded its 1,000th confirmed case of the COVID - 19 virus in the state, according to statistics released by the Alabama Department of Public Health.

Governor Kay Ivey, in conjunction with the Alabama Department of Education, announced on Thursday, March 26 that the K-12 public schools in Alabama would stay closed for the remainder of the 2019-20 academic school year. Ivey added, “Beginning at the start of school on April 6, 2020, all public K-12 schools shall implement a plan to complete the 2019-2020 school year using alternate methods of instruction as established by the State Superintendent of Education."

The Coronavirus (COVID -19) topped 500 cases in Alabama as reported by the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) at 3:05 p.m. on Thursday, March 26. The ADPH reported its first fatality from the Coronavirus on March 25, with the death toll from COVID - 19 remaining at one in Alabama at present time. For up-to-date information concerning the Coronavirus in Alabama, visit the ADPH website and check the latest figures via the site's dashboard. For U.S. totals, visit the Center for Disease Control.

The Coronavirus COVID - 19 continues to paralyse the state and nation, threatening to close all but the most essential services and businesses throughout the country. The stock market continues its free-fall. The Dow Jones Industrial average was approaching a new milestone mark of 30,000 approximately one month ago. On Monday, March 23, the average had slipped to just above 18,000, a 52-week low. Stores shelves are still bare in many places of essential basic food and household items.

Governor Kay Ivey and the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) on Thursday, March 19 issued the following statewide health order to aid in Alabama’s efforts to contain the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
 Statewide through April 5:
 All gatherings of 25 persons or more, or gatherings of any size that cannot maintain a consistent six-foot distance between persons, are prohibited. This Order shall apply to all gatherings, events or activities that bring 25 or more persons in a single room or single space at the same time.

Governor Kay Ivey on Wednesday, March 18 announced the Primary Runoff Election would be held on July 14 due to concerns surrounding the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. “Exercising my extraordinary powers under the Emergency Management Act, I am setting Alabama’s Primary Runoff Election for July 14, 2020,” said Ivey. “The ability to hold free and fair elections is an inherent right as citizens of the United States and the great State of Alabama, but the safety and well-being of Alabama citizens is paramount.

Beginning Aug. 29, the State of Alabama will no longer issue marriage licenses.
A law passed this year by the Alabama legislature abolishes the practice of issuing marriage licenses in Alabama, and replaces the licenses with a “marriage certificate.” The certificate requires the parties wishing to be married to fill out a form, stating that they agree to marry and meet the legal requirements for marriage.

Beginning this fall, Alabama will no longer issue  licenses to individuals wishing to enter into marriage. A bill was passed, signed and enacted on May 31 that will abolish the issuing of marriage licenses in Alabama. The law is scheduled to take place on approximately Aug. 29, and will require the couple wishing to marry to sign an affidavit affirming that they meet the legal requirements to marry.