Local officials say they will continue to evaluate circumstances, but recreation programs must remain closed in Andalusia and all of Covington County for now. 

“We understand that parents are anxious for recreation and other activities to resume,” Mayor Earl Johnson said. “But based on Governor Ivey’s order, and the state’s statistics, it is too soon to do so. The price we are paying now enhances our chances of being able to reopen schools in the fall, and to have the football, volleyball, band and cheerleading activities that we all love, especially in Andalusia.”

Gov. Kay Ivey on Tuesday announced her current stay-at-home order will expire at 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 30, and Alabama will remain under a safer-at-home order at least until May 15. While the new guidelines loosen restrictions on retail, they still limit gatherings to 10 or fewer with people required to remain at least six feet apart, and prohibit the reopening of close-contact businesses like salons and gyms. The new order also prohibits the reopening of athletic facilities and activities that require use of shared sporting apparatus or activities on playground equipment.

In anticipation of the governor’s new order, leaders of recreation leagues in Andalusia, Opp, Florala and Covington County met in person on Monday and by teleconference on Tuesday to discuss if and how baseball and softball seasons might be resumed. Participants included Andalusia Mayor Earl Johnson, Opp Mayor Becky Bracke, Florala Mayor Terry Holley and Covington County Commission Chairman Greg White, along with league officials Tommie Agee, Willie Edwards, and Jed Blackwell. A licensed physician also met with the group.

On Tuesday, Gov. Ivey and state health officer Dr. Scott Harris said the COVID-19 threat is not over. 

“We’re still seeing the virus spread, and all our people are susceptible to the infection,” Ivey  said Tuesday. “The great disservice to people who may be listening to me today is that lifting the comprehensive health restrictions (may lead them to believe) that there is no threat of COVID-19. We must continue to be vigilant."

The White House guidelines for “Opening Up America Again” call for a phased-in approach for reopening. The guidelines recommend that states begin to reopen after 14 days of declining numbers of new cases of COVID-19. Ivey stopped just short of implementing The White House’s Phase I reopening, which would allow sit-down dining in restaurants, and corporate worship, so long as social distancing was observed. The White House plan states that youth sports and other recreation not be reopened until Phase 2, which requires an additional 14 days of declining numbers of new cases, or 28 total days of declining numbers. 

Local leaders said they will continue to monitor the situation, but a number of things must happen before any recreation programs can reopen. Those include future orders from the governor, as well as rates of COVID-19 cases and the availability to test for those cases.

Alabama’s State Parks, including Frank Jackson State Park in Opp, have remained open throughout the pandemic to encourage outdoor recreation. However, state parks closed playgrounds, beach areas, and dining operations. 

The City of Florala closed access to Lake Jackson in April, but Mayor Holley said Tuesday he will reopen the lake this weekend. However, the pier and playgrounds will remain closed.