By Zach Hester, Reporter • zach@southerntorch.com
ALABAMA — On Friday, Governor Kay Ivey (R-Ala.) and State Public Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris delivered an update regarding the State of Alabama's "safer at home" order, which went into effect last week.
The order, which initially kept some of the restrictions of Ivey's "stay-at-home" mandate issued in April, has now been amended to allow restaurants, salons, and gyms to reopen on Monday, May 11. This new order will be in place through Friday, May 22.
The order also removes the limit on non-work gatherings of 10 or more people, but people are still required to remain six feet apart in public places.
What's Changing With This Order
- Restaurants and bars may reopen with limited seating and six feet between tables
- Gyms may reopen subject to social distancing and sanitation
- Barbershops, salons, and tattoo shops may reopen
- Eliminates the gathering limitation on beaches
What Isn't Changing
- Retail stores, which were allowed to reopen last week, must maintain 50% capacity during this time.
- Visitation at nursing homes and hospitals are still limited
- Educational institutions are still closed to in-person instruction
- Childcare facilities are limited to 12 or less children per room
- Entertainment venues (clubs, theaters, etc.) remain closed
At the time of press, the State of Alabama had 9,048 cases of the novel coronavirus with 117,301 tests reported. 371 deaths have been reported.
Full Order: https://governor.alabama.gov/assets/2020/05/Safer-at-Home-Order-FINAL-5.8.2020.pdf
