Harris On Another Shutdown

Dr. Scott Harris, the State Health Officer for Alabama, talked to WAAY 31 about whether a second shutdown is possible in the state due to the rising number of coronavirus cases.

We begin with breaking news at 6.

Within the last hour - we learned the united states coronavirus death toll has reached a quarter of a million.

That's according to johns hopkins university's covid dashboard.

You're taking a live look at huntsville.

Madison county has recorded 109 of those deaths.

Good evening and thanks for joining us tonight.

I'm najahe sherman.

And i'm dan shaffer.

That death toll - and other numbers - have led some states and cities to enter a shutdown.

Today- the state health officer talked to waay 31 about whether a second shutdown is possible in alabama due to the rising number of coronavirus cases.

Waay 31's sydney martin is live in huntsville tonight with what he had to say.

Dan, najahe- state heatlh officer scott harris told me he doesn't speak for the governor- but he understands she needs to balance the competing intersts of the economy and public health.

Governor ivey said today she has no plans to close businesses again, and harris said he also doesn't think a shutdown is something that will happen anytime soon.

Harris told me if people wear masks like they're supposed to it would cut down on the rise in cases.

He said even though businesses are open people should stay home when they don't need to go out..

And he said people who are sick definately should not leave their house.

Harris told me the people breaking the health order are setting back the end of restrictions.

The rules that remain in place at this point could put an end to this pandemic if only we could get people to follow it."

"the thing about health orders is there not magic.

And they don't compel people to do something unless law enforcement is willing to arrest people and send them to jail and nobody thinks that the right thing to do, so what we need is buy in from the public to think about others than themselves.

With thanksgiving about a week away- harris told me he encourages everyone to think about their plans..and following the health order to keep their family members safe - and for some he said like his family, it means waiting until a later date when the pandemic is more under control to celebrate the holiday.

Live in huntsville sm waay31 news doctor harris also gave us an update on the coronavirus vaccine.

He said the c-d-c will allocate doses to states based on their population.

So - alabama will only get a few hundred thousand doses in the first round of distribution.

That's not even enough to cover every healthcare worker in the state.

Harris also told us the vaccine probably won't be available for pregnant women or children - because those demographics weren't tested enough for the f-d-a to approve giving it to them.