Mayor Earl Johnson announced Monday morning that the city is taking several steps to help stop the expected spread of the coronavirus, COVID-19.

• The Andalusia Public Library will close at the end of business on Wednesday, March 18. The library will follow the schedule of the public school system, and plans to reopen on Monday, April 6.

• City parks also will be closed after Wednesday and until the school system reopens. “We simply don’t have the manpower to keep playground equipment disinfected,” the mayor said.

For now, the golf course will remain open. 

• Andalusia City Schools Superintendent Ted Watson has informed city officials that school personnel are working out a plan to deliver meals while the schools are closed in response to the virus to those students who normally receive free lunches.

Those closings were added to others announced on Friday, which included:

• Because we are concerned about the health and welfare of our senior adults, the Adult Activity Center will be closed effective until further notice. 

The Senior Nutrition Center will continue to operate. Those seniors who normally have foods delivered from the Nutrition Center will continue to receive those deliveries. Meals also will be provided for those who normally dine-in at the Adult Activity Center. They can be picked up weekdays from 11 a.m. until noon, drive-through only.

That being said, social interaction is important to senior adults, and we encourage our patrons to keep in touch with and check on each other.

• Our Department of Leisure Services has announced that it will keep the same schedule as public schools. League practices will continue through Wednesday, March 18. The Department of Leisure Services will keep the same schedule as the school system.  

In an extended interview on WAAO, the mayor encouraged area residents to use common sense and use some “grandma wisdom,” by washing their hands often, “staying away from sick folks,” and checking on their neighbors as people are encouraged to keep social distances. 

The health and welfare of our community is of great concern to us, and we are carefully monitoring information coming to us from national, state and local resources about the coronavirus, COVID-19.
As of today, Friday, March 13, we will continue our league practices through Wednesday, March 18. Changes will be made if necessary, but for now, we plan to follow the schedule used by the school system. Alabama public schools will close on the afternoon of March 18 with the goal of re-opening on Monday, April 6.
If you feel that participation is unsafe for your child, or if your child is sick, we encourage you to keep him or her at home.
We will make sure that our restrooms are well stocked, and will encourage handwashing and good hand etiquette. We encourage parents to do the same.

As the nation moves to stop the spread of the COVID-19, we are closely following the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) in making decisions about city activities. Because we are concerned about the health and welfare of all of our residents, but most especially our senior adults, the Adult Activity Center will be closed effective immediately and until further notice. 

Those who normally have meals from the nutrition center delivered to their homes will continue to receive those meals. Patrons who normally dine in at the nutrition center may drive through and pick up their meals between 11 a.m. and noon on weekdays.

We also are announcing that we have postponed Senior Appreciation Day, which was set for March 26, 2020.

We know that social interaction is important to senior adults, and we encourage our patrons to keep in touch with and check on each other.