MONTGOMERY – Mayor Steven L. Reed joined River Region leaders and Montgomery City/County EMA today to outline community readiness and preparations in place for the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.

Officials have been preparing and intensively planning for weeks and months but chose to share updates today with the public in an effort to dispel rumors, encourage healthy habits and prevent panic. City departments have detailed contingency plans in place to ensure continuity of operations in any scenario possible.

Initial steps to combat the prevalence of the disease include the immediate cancellation of City events until further notice, regulating public access to City buildings and staying in constant contact with members of the River Region medical community. Montgomery City Council’s meeting for March 17 has been cancelled.

The situation remains fluid, but the City will update the public as new information is available. A special section on Montgomery’s city website, https://www.montgomeryal.gov/live/coronavirus, has been created to provide a continuous stream of information to the public. The City will also share news and updates via its social media properties as well as Capital City Connection, the City’s government-educational TV programming found on Charter Cable channel 181 and WOW! channel 96.

Mayor Reed has been in regular contact with other Alabama leaders, as well as mayors and leaders from across the nation – including those currently facing the virus. He remains cautious but optimistic in the City’s ability to handle the challenge at hand, citing faith in the City’s first-responders, staff and community health advocates, like the Alabama Department of Public Health.

Montgomery residents are encouraged to continue adhering to best practices, especially those provided by ADPH:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick;

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then dispose of it in the trash;

• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth;

• Clean and disinfect touched objects and surfaces regularly;

• Wash hands often with soap and for at least 20 seconds;

• Limit social contact;

• Avoid crowds of people (500 and larger);

Updates and new information on the City of Montgomery’s response will be updated as things progress.

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