BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
Governor Ivey has extended the Safer At Home order to Nov. 8, meaning mandatory masks for at least five more weeks due to COVID-19.
However, there is one critical change and a clarification from the Governor on caregivers and loved ones being allowed access to those admitted to a hospital.
In her press conference earlier today, she addressed those who have been unable to visit patients admitted to hospitals, saying, “I realize it has been a long, hard year.”
In the updated order, changes will allow for, and clarify, that a loved one or care giver will be allowed to accompany a patient admitted to a hospital.
Ivey said she wanted to state for the record that the health orders were never designed to prevent accompanying a loved one to a hospital as long as it was a caregiver or someone making decisions for the patient.
She said there has been much confusion, and she has heard too many reports of people being left without access to a caregiver. So to make it “crystal clear” she said that as of today, Sept. 30, each patient is allowed one caregiver, one visitor at a time, unless compelling reasons limit access.
That being said, she added that everything possible will be done to protect patients and health care workers.
For the updated full order, follow this link:
