Conference call with Gov. Ivey and Dr. Harris. No statewide shelter-in-place order for now she says. "We are not California. We are not New York. We are not even Louisiana." Says she is trying to balance economy & public health.
2 questions about ventilators. Dr. Scott Harris (the State Public Health Officer) says they're trying to track down sources wherever they can. Ivey says "we are relying on public and private partnerships to fulfill our needs."
Q. from @Trish_Crain about what factors Ivey would consider in reopening schools. Ivey says she will meet with Mackey later this week. "We want to keep teachers and student safe and I’m sure a determination will need to be made closer to April 6."
(That's Superintendent Eric Mackey. Also, the governor's office asked for all questions to be submitted ahead of time. Also, I may not get to all the questions being asked.)
On Q from @fox6alancollins re: business effects, Ivey: "We must do everything we can to keep businesses open and if they’re closed, to get them open as soon as possible." Says she agrees with Trump on this point (doesn't commit to his April 12 restart goal in this answer).
Question on hospitalizations: Harris says 8 or 9% of patients have been hospitalized. That's a higher percentage than reported before, but Harris has said (in the past and on this call) that they're still gathering data on this particular point. Just 2,300 tests so far.
Question about whether the roughly 10% positive test rate is expected to hold up. Harris seems to say he thinks that will change as more testing is done, and says he does not know the false negative rate. But thinks the test is reliable.
IVey: "The safety and well-being of Alabamians is paramount. However, I agree with President Trump that a healthy and vital economy is just as essential to our quality of life …. It’s a balance and we are trying to strike the appropriate balance as we move forward."
Harris says they're searching for more protective equipment. Says ADPH issued all of its equipment last week. "We are trying to source it from every place we can."
Ivey also encouraging people to give blood and support small businesses in a safe manner. (FWIW: I've asked Ivey's office about extending unemployment benefits & suspending foreclosures and evictions as other states have done. No committments there.)
And that's that. Ivey sounds reluctant to move beyond current state orders aimed at alleviating the spread of coronavirus.
