MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Governor Kay Ivey and State Health Officer Scott Harris hosted Dr. Deborah Birx, the Coronavirus Response Coordinator for the White House Coronavirus Task Force.
The meeting was an opportunity to look at the COVID-19 situation in Alabama. Ivey, Harris, and Birx participated in a roundtable discussion with various state health individuals, members of the business and religious communities and other lawmakers. Among the topics discussed were testing, Remdesivir, and the safe reopening of schools and churches.
According to the governor's office, Dr. Birx emphasized very strongly that this is a critical time for the South to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and that the governor’s decision to issue a statewide mask order was “brilliant” and critical to keeping businesses open and running safely. Dr. Birx told the governor that she was personally worried about the South, which is not showing the same pattern of infection as the Northeast, where the virus seemed to be concentrated in large cities.
Governor Ivey said she is appreciative for Dr. Birx time and knowledge and looks forward to keeping an open dialogue with her and the Trump Administration.