Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
Birmingham City Hall
Birmingham City Hall on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. Photo by Erin Nelson
The Birmingham City Council voted on Tuesday, April 6, to implement a citywide mask ordinance, according to a council news release.
The statewide mask mandate that Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey put in place in July 2020 is set to expire on Friday, April 9.
The city’s ordinance is similar to the ordinance passed by members in 2020 in the early months of the pandemic, the release states.
“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," City Council President William Parker said. “The science is clear. Wearing masks and social distancing works in preventing the spread of this virus.”
The ordinance will remain in effect until midnight on May 24, and it can be evaluated prior to May 18 to determine if it needs to be amended or repealed due to changes in the pandemic.
Health experts warn that another wave of infections is possible as case numbers continue to rise across the country.
To read the complete text of the ordinance, click here.
