Lt. Gov says Alabama is not doing enough to prepare for pandemic
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WPMI) — Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth is blasting Alabama’s response to the pandemic, saying not enough is being done right now to prepare. Ainsworth says the State is simply not ready for the tsunami of patients heading its way.
In a memo sent to the State’s COVID-19 task force, first obtained by Yellowhammer News, Ainsworth says conservative estimates show by May 1st there will be more than 245,000 COVID-19 cases in Alabama, with more than 6,000 patients critically ill in a state where there are currently only 1,344 ventilators.
In the memo, Ainsworth calls on the state to double or triple its hospital capacity right now and coordinate doctors across the state who can step in when, inevitably, there is also a shortage of healthcare workers.
Ainsworth said, “No one will ever fault us for being over prepared for the worst-case scenario, but blame will be well deserved if we chose to wait for whatever comes and do nothing to prepare."
NBC 15 News reached out to Governor Ivey’s office. A spokesperson says Ainsworth’s memo “only reinforces the actions of her Task Force” and she will continue to implement policies that will protect the people in this state.
