Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Thursday declared that it’s time to name and shame unvaccinated people for causing new cases of COVID infections and deaths.
In the last two weeks, Alabama has seen 9,9000 cases of COVID-19. According to officials, the low vaccination rate is a reason for the rise in cases.
“Let’s be crystal clear about this issue. And media, I want you to start reporting the facts. The new cases of COVID are because of unvaccinated folks. Almost 100% of the new hospitalizations are with unvaccinated folks. And the deaths are certainly occurring with the unvaccinated folks. These folks are choosing a horrible lifestyle of self-inflicted pain,” Gov. Ivey declared during an event on Thursday.
BYPASS THE CENSORS
Sign up to get unfiltered news delivered straight to your inbox.
You can unsubscribe any time. By subscribing you agree to our Terms of Use
Cbs42.com reports: When asked how the state can get more shots into the arms of residents, Ivey did not hold back her displeasure with the lack of success previous plans have had.
“I don’t know, you tell me. Folks are supposed to have common sense. But it’s time to start blaming the unvaccinated folks, not the vaccinated folks. It’s the unvaccinated folks that are letting us down,” she said.
“I’ve done all I know how to do. I can encourage you to do something but I can’t make you take care of yourself.
Ivey also repeated her statement on schools coming back during the pandemic, saying that it is up to the individual schools to make decisions on mask mandates.
The Jefferson County Department of Health also addressed the rise in recent cases and vaccine hesitancy. County Health Officer Dr. Mark Wilson said that with the rise in cases and hospitalizations, a rise in deaths is almost certain.
“The tragic thing is that almost all of these deaths will have been prevented if only those people had been vaccinated,” Wilson said.
Ivey encouraged Alabamians to get vaccinated, calling it “the greatest weapon we have to fight COVID.” Although she said she has no plans to implement a mask mandate again in the state.
“I want folks to get vaccinated, that’s the cure. That prevents everything. Why would we want to mess around with this temporary stuff? We don’t need to encourage people to go halfway in curing this disease. Let’s get it done. We know what it takes to get it done, that’s to get a shot in the arm,” she said.
