UAB + local businesses pledge to help fight spread of COVID-19
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UAB is teaming up with local businesses pledging to help fight the spread of COVID-19. The goal? To keep UAB students and employees safe on campus and Birmingham businesses open. Learn more about their pledge including what area businesses have already committed to doing their part.
#UABUnited
Earlier this week, UAB announced its local business pledge in hopes of encouraging safe practices to avoid an increase in COVID-19 cases and ultimately closures.
As students and employees return to Birmingham’s Southside for the fall semester, there will be an influx of activity in the area. It will take everyone doing their part, including area businesses, to ensure both students and employees have a safe semester on and off-campus.
UAB is asking area businesses to:
- Take the local business pledge
- Promote mask-wearing
- Encourage social distancing
- Use crowd control measures
The pledge states:
“(Insert business name here) respects and supports the University of Alabama at Birmingham student community and what they are working to accomplish at UAB.
As a local business that welcomes and is proud to support UAB students, we pledge that—in the interest of their health and safety—we will require masks, social distancing, crowd control and other proven safety strategies.
As a partner with UAB in our shared community, we are proud to be #UABUnited.”
To take the pledge, businesses must email their affirmation of the statement above to president@uab.edu. Businesses are then encouraged to download their certificate, print it off, and display it in their storefront.
Currently, 11 businesses have taken the pledge to support UAB’s fight against COVID-19 including:
- Blueprint on 3rd
- Dave’s Pub
- FILTER- Coffee Parlor
- Grandview Financial Group
- iiis optical shop
- Jim N Nicks
- Makarios Kabob and Grill
- REED Books
- Surin West
- The Red Barn
- True40 Fitness Studio
The announcement also included a quote from UAB President Ray L. Watts that read:
“UAB is proud of the positive economic impact we have in our local community, including how our students, faculty and staff support local businesses.
We are asking local businesses to take a pledge and support our students to help UAB have the best possible chance to remain open. If COVID-19 causes UAB to suspend in-person instruction and send students home, we all lose.”
UAB President Ray L. Watts
Taking the Pledge to be Proactive
UAB’s announcement of the local business pledge comes in the same week that the University of Alabama made headlines after reporting 500+ COVID-19 cases less than a week after classes started at their main campus in Tuscaloosa. According to their COVID-19 dashboard, UA had 531 cumulative cases for students, faculty, and staff.
The University of Alabama held a press conference Monday, August 24, to address the latest COVID-19 reports. The speakers included University President Dr. Stuart Bell, Dr. Richard Friend and Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox. President Bell spoke first on the recent rise in cases.
“The rise we’ve seen in recent days is unacceptable, and if unchecked, threatens our ability to complete the rest of the semester on campus. Now is the time for action.”
President Stuart Bell
Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox spoke last announcing the temporary closure of bars and bar service at restaurants for 14 days starting Monday, Aug. 24 at 5PM.
Masks On Until October
On Thursday, August 27, Governor Kay Ivey held a press conference where she commended the leadership of Walt Maddox and the UA President Stuart Bell for deciding to shut down Tuscaloosa bars earlier in the week. She also extended the statewide mask ordinance until October 2.
“Wearing a mask is simply the right thing to do. When you’re wearing a mask you’re protecting the people in your office, church, school and your vulnerable family and friends.”
Governor Ivey
We’re proud to see UAB and local businesses come together to encourage everyone to do their part to ensure the safety of UAB students as well as the Birmingham community.
If you see a local business with a pledge placed in their window, make sure to snap a pic and send it to us on social at @BhamNow on Facebook and Instagram, or @Now_Bham on Twitter for updates along the way.
