Mayor Calls For Responsibility During and After Championship Game

Mayor Walt Maddox took a page out of Nick Saban's playbook when he asked Tuscaloosa citizens to adhere to the "process" of curbing the spread of COVID-19.

In a Facebook post Friday, Maddox asked fans to continue to wear masks, practice social distancing and to follow the laws and regulations put forth by the state.

"Particularly in our downtown Strip area, and other places of entertainment activity throughout our city is important to remember this, we can't have block parties this year," Maddox said. "There'll be a time and place to celebrate, but this is not the time."

Maddox stressed that DCH is currently "stretched" after it reported its fifth-straight day of treating 165 or more COVID-19 inpatients in their system.

Despite this and a report that DCH would support stronger policies to stop COVID-19, Maddox told the Tuscaloosa Thread Friday that he is not currently considering implementing a curfew or taking other new executive action to fight the spread of pandemic.

"The City has worked to meet every request of DCH and will continue to support our frontline heroes," Maddox said Friday. "In last night’s conversation, DCH indicated that although they are being stretched by inpatient COVID-19 numbers, they are able to provide for our community without any disruptions of elective surgeries or other significant modifications. DCH reaffirmed they would notify community leaders if their internal options for capacity, staffing and/or PPE was in danger of compromise."

Stay connected to The Tuscaloosa Thread for more details as they become available.