Area Officials Hold Afternoon Press Conference

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
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Date: Mar 27 2020 2:22 PM

DOTHAN – HOUSTON COUNTY:    This afternoon ( Friday, March 27, 2020 ) area leaders assembled in the Joint Information Center of Dothan – Houston County Emergency Management Office for a joint press conference.

The opening remarks were made by Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba. He reassured the citizens that your area leaders are on top of this issue. That we are monitoring the situation and we are going to continue to get our guidelines from the Alabama Department of Public Health.

The latest from the Alabama Governor’s Office of what is essential and non-essential businesses.

Saliba said what is important to the leaders, that we continue to provide the essential services that people depend on. While dealing with COVID-19 other emergencies are being handled. There are other medical emergencies to be managed in addition to COVID-19. And the emergency services are on duty and handling those emergencies.

Mayor Saliba said we will come out of this. We are all in this together and we will survive.

Houston County Commission Chairman Mark Culver said we are a strong community because we work together. We meet, collaborate and discuss.

Both Dothan – Houston County Emergency Management Director Chris Judah and Dothan Fire Deputy Chief Chris Etheridge are meeting and making sure the information is accurate.

The new order issued by Alabama Governor Kay Ivey mirrors that of President Donald Trump. The new order lowers the gathering from 25 to 10.

This is a contagious virus. Chairman Culver said not as much as a killer virus but very contagious.

Chairman Culver said the list is being studied. The business that are non-essential are being asked to close the doors. The online sales are still permissible. The curb side service is still available.

Chairman Culver said the only order in affect is that of Alabama Governor Kay Ivey. There are no local orders contrary to the Governor’s Order. No curfews.

All Houston County Offices are closed to the public. All business transactions will be done online or by phone.

Chairman Culver said the community is been good to follow the directions from the Governor and President.

Dothan Fire Deputy Chief Chris Etheridge said we are following the orders and online information from CDC and Alabama Department of Public Health. Etheridge said remember our first responders but also the 911 staff. They are required to ask certain questions to provide details to the emergency responders.

WTVY asked Mayor Saliba about the unemployment numbers. There is a balance between economic impact and medical impact. How to accomplish the balance in the upcoming weeks. Unemployment is very important topic to us. A meeting yesterday at Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce about what money is available, what money is coming here and how to get here. The information is available at the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce.

Mayor Saliba said many residents live paycheck to paycheck. We have to find a balance and that is the biggest struggle. What is that balance? Changing daily but on top of the list of the concerns.

Chairman Culver spoke to the businesses closed. The furniture, home furnishing stores, sporting good stores, entertainment venues.

Corey Kirkland of Alabama Department of Public Health said some stores like Target who sells cleaning supplies will be open.

Mayor Saliba said there needs to be clarification. If there are questions call the Health Department and Dothan City Offices. If you do not know, better to say can I do this with a locked door and stay inside. Can I do business without people coming inside.

Chairman Culver said you can still order from the business online just can not go inside. We are trying to keep the public safe.

Received a complaint a apartment complex was going up on the rent. Anyone that feels being unfairly treated contact the Alabama Attorney General Office. If people are raising the rent reach out to the landlord and see why. The City and County have no jurisdiction in that issue but the Attorney General or District Attorney.

WTVY asked about testing from a healthcare provider. Alabama Department of Public Health said between the patient and healthcare provider.

WTVY asked Flowers Hospital testing. Matt Levin, the Chief Operating Officer of Flowers Hospital said 38 patients are tested, 6 tests are pending, and none confirmed. The test results are sent to the Alabama Department of Public Health and Alabama Incident Management System.

The Governor and her press releases one spoke specifically to local law enforcement having the ability to enforce the orders issued as to numbers. The law enforcement has that authority.

Chairman Culver said public safety people are essential and will continue to do what they need to provide services to the people. Such as law enforcement, fire, EMS, sanitation.

Are pending cases being quarantine. ALDH said those being tested are asked to be quarantined but those who tested positive are quarantine.

Mayor Saliba said he has learned a lot about terminology during this. The term “shelter” is a emergency management term that means if a train derailed and dangerous chemicals, “shelter” stay in your home and do not leave.

The discussion here is different. Mayor Saliba said if we will follow the Alabama Department of Public Health guidelines then we will be in good shape if we will follow those orders.

Alabama Department of Public Health Corey Kirkland said the Houston County numbers are 3 or 4. Look at the Alabama Department of Public Health dashboard for information on the numbers,

If someone lives in Georgia and comes to Houston County

Mayor Mark Saliba said there are concerns. Nothing is being hidden. There are no conspiracies and nothing being hidden from the public. When there is a positive finding a investigation has to be conducted to find out who they have been around, where they are from and other information. Once that information is obtained it is public.

Mayor Saliba said nothing is being hidden from the public.

Mayor Saliba said one group to keep in mind is the non-profits. They are trying to hang on. Without the non profits in this area a lot more people would be suffering.

Mayor Saliba said that the City and County are doing a wonderful job in managing this issue. A lot of great people in the community and we will overcome.

 

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