National COVID-19 Update - PROJECT AIRBRIDGE 🇺🇸🛩: Last week, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched 'Project Airbridge' and enlisted the help of the private sector to deliver needed supplies in an expedient manner. FedEx and UPS have been engaged to participate in the public-private partnership.

Supply chain management efficiency is the goal. Utilize skilled industry partners to quickly send supplies to hotspots so Americans can start using what they need.

Dr. Nicole Jones 

More here in the Alabama Political Reporter: https://www.alreporter.com/2020/04/10/fema-and-hhs-launch-project-airbridge/

GOOD NEWS from Alabama automakers: Whether retooling to create products or donating funds to obtain supplies needed to combat COVID-19, Toyota, Hyundai, Honda, and Mercedes-Benz certainly have demonstrated their roles as key Alabama economic development partners. Until a treatment is found, supplies and strategy are of great value for fellow Alabamians and Americans. Thank you to all companies and individuals who contribute in various ways.

Dr. Nicole Jones

More here in the Alabama Political Reporter: https://www.alreporter.com/2020/04/06/alabama-automakers-contribute-to-covid-19-fight/

​ALABAMA ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES LIST [from the Order effective 4/4 at 5PM] 🇺🇸: 

For the purposes of this Order, “essential businesses and operations” means and includes:
a. Government operations, including public safety and first responders, law enforcement, fire prevention and response, courts and court personnel, military, emergency management personnel, corrections, probation and parole, child protection, child welfare, EMTs, 911 call-center employees, all workers and vendors that support law enforcement and emergency management operations and services, and other federal, state, tribal, or local officials or employees;
b. Health-care providers and caregivers, including physicians, dentists, mental health workers, nurses, chiropractors, physical therapists, veterinarians, hospitals/clinics,
medical practices, research and laboratory operations, hospice, health care facilities, clinical staff, nursing homes, residential health care facilities, adult day care centers,
blood banks, congregate-care facilities, assisted living facilities, elder care, medical wholesale and distribution, home health workers and aides, medical supply and
equipment manufacturers and providers, medical waste disposal, hazardous waste disposal, other ancillary healthcare services;
c. Infrastructure Operations, including electric, natural gas, and water utilities, nuclear facilities and other generating facilities, utility poles and components, fuel pipelines and transmission systems, petroleum producers, telecommunications, electronic security and life safety services, wireless communication companies, communications sales and customer support, telecommunication and data centers, cybersecurity operations; businesses and other operations concerned with flood control, aviation, and the maintenance, operation, or construction of dams, airports, ports, roads and highways, and
mass transit; automotive sales and repair, vehicle rental and taxi services, network providers (such as Uber and Lyft), freight and passenger rail, motor carriers, pipelines,
and other transportation infrastructure and businesses, water and waste water systems, transportation companies such as airlines and bus lines, hazardous waste disposal, hotels and commercial lodging services, and RV parks;
d. Manufacturing facilities, including food processing and production; companies that produce pharmaceuticals, food additives, medical equipment, medical devices and
supplies, technology, biotechnology, chemical products, telecommunications products; automotive production and suppliers, airplane, ship, and space vehicle or rocket
manufacturers; companies involved in healthcare, energy, steel and steel products, fuel and petroleum exploration and production, lubricants, greases and engine oils, mining, national defense, sanitary and cleaning products, household products, personal care products, products used by any other Essential Business or Operation;
e. Agricultural operations and farms, including food cultivation, livestock, cattle, poultry and seafood operations, transportation of agricultural products, livestock auctions,
feedlots, dealers and brokers of livestock, farmer’s markets, feed stores, repairers and suppliers of agricultural equipment, gas, diesel and petroleum suppliers, companies
involved with aquaculture, horticulture, and chemicals, including pesticide, herbicide, and fertilizer producers and distributors, forest products businesses, including those
involved in forestry operations, logging, manufacture of lumber and paper products; meat processing facilities, rendering facilities and transporters, feed processing facilities,
veterinary services;
f. Essential retailers, defined as all supermarkets, food and beverage stores, including liquor stores and warehouse clubs, food providers, convenience stores, office-supply stores, bookstores, computer stores, pharmacies, health care supply stores, hardware stores, home improvement stores, building materials stores, stores that sell electrical, plumbing, and heating materials, gun stores, gas stations; auto, farm equipment, bicycle, motorcycle, and boat supply and repair stores, and businesses that ship or deliver groceries, food, and goods directly to residences;
g. Restaurants and bars;
h. Essential personal services, defined as trash collection, mail and shipping services, home repair, automotive sales and repair; warehouse, distribution and fulfillment centers, kennels, animal shelters, laundromats/laundry service, dry cleaners, childcare facilities,public transportation, and providers of business services including security and payroll; funeral, cemetery, and related services;
i. Media operations, including newspapers, digital news sites, television, radio and other
media services;
j. Education operations, including educators supporting public and private K-12 schools,colleges and universities or other educational institutions, for purposes of facilitating distance learning and education continuity plans approved by the State Superintendent of Education, performing critical research or other essential functions, including public schools preparing and transporting distance-learning materials and meals to eligible students and colleges providing lodging for students (all in compliance with paragraph 12 below);
k. Financial services, including banks and related financial institutions, credit unions, payday lenders, businesses that process credit card and other financial transactions, and other services related to financial markets;
l. Professional Services, including legal services, accounting services, insurance services, real estate services (including appraisal and title services);
m. Providers of basic necessities to economically disadvantaged populations including businesses, religious and secular non-profit organizations, food banks, homeless shelters and congregate-care facilities;
n. Construction and construction-related services, including building and construction, lumber, building materials and hardware businesses, electricians, plumbers, other
construction tradesmen and tradeswomen, exterminators; cleaning and janitorial, HVAC and water heating businesses; painting, moving and relocating services, other skilled trades, and other related construction firms and professionals for maintaining essential infrastructure;
o. Essential public services, defined as services necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation and essential operations of residences and essential businesses and essential business operations, including law enforcement, fire prevention and response, firearm and ammunition manufacturers and retailers, building code enforcement, security, emergency management and response, building cleaning including disinfection, automotive sales and repair, mortuaries and cemeteries;
p. Military or defense operations, including employers and personnel who support the essential products and services required to meet national security commitments, including personnel working for companies and their subcontractors, who perform under contract to the Department of Defense providing materials and services to the Department of
Defense and government-owned/contractor-operated and government-owned /government-operated facilities.
q. Essential services or product providers, defined as vendors that provide services or products, including logistics, transportation, and technology support, child care programs
and services, medical waste disposal, hazardous waste disposal, services needed to ensure the continuing operation of an essential business or operation, operation of government agencies, and to provide for the health, safety and welfare of the public;
r. Religious entities, including religious and faith-based facilities, entities and groups;
s. Federally-designated critical infrastructure, defined as workers and related industries
identified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in its “Memorandum on Identification of Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers During COVID-19 Response,” https://www.cisa.gov/identifyingcritical-infrastructure-during-covid-19, as may be amended;
t. Other state-designated essential businesses and operations, defined as businesses and operations deemed essential by the Alabama Department of Public Health or the Alabama
Emergency Management Agency; and
u. Support operations for essential businesses and operations, defined as employees,contractors, agents, suppliers, or vendors of an essential business or operation as definedin this paragraph.