By Zach Hester, Reporter • zach@southerntorch.com (Photo via Alabama Governor's Office)
ALABAMA — At a press conference on Tuesday, Governor Kay Ivey (R-Ala.), in coordination with State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris, announced her plans to reopen Alabama's economy after climbing COVID-19 infections caused the state to "stay-at-home" for the majority of April.
Ivey stated on Thursday, April 30 at 5 p.m., the State of Alabama will enter a "Safer at Home" order, a less restrictive measure than the "stay-at-home" order, which will expire on Thursday.
The "Safer at Home" order will still require social distancing, and allow the focus to be placed on both personal health and economic health. The order, which comes as Alabama sees a "stabilization" in new cases, will include the following measures:
- All retail businesses will be allowed to reopen with a 50% occupancy and six feet between customers
- All Alabama beaches will reopen
- All non-work gatherings of 10 or more people are still prohibited
- Elective medical procedures may resume
- In-person gatherings at churches still prohibited
- Hair salons will remain closed
- Restaurants are still only open for curbside pickup, take-out or delivery
State Public Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris stated that Alabama has not met the 14-day decline laid out in the federal government's "Phase 1" reopening plan, so gyms and theaters will remain closed. Harris also encouraged Alabamians to wear a face-covering or mask when interacting with those outside the people living in their home.
"What our citizens have done is working, and I appreciate that so many people have been willing to do the right things to keep themselves healthy," Ivey stated.
Ivey encouraged employers to take reasonable steps to keep workspaces to ten persons or less, disinfect office spaces, common-sense hygiene, and continue telework where possible. She also said hospitals are no longer expected to see a surge.
Pastor Jay Wolf, Ivey's personal minister, stated houses of worship must reopen in gradual motion, just like the economy. He stated that "at this time, Alabama does not meet the guidelines to reopen houses of worship" according to guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
"The threat of COVID-19 is not over," Ivey stated. "Folks, we must continue to be vigilant in our social distancing...better days are ahead of us, I'm sure of that."
As of Tuesday morning, Alabama had 6,580 cases of the novel coronavirus out of 74,359 tested. The Alabama Department of Public Health reported 241 deaths due to COVID-19 and 900 Alabamians have been hospitalized with the virus since March 13.
In DeKalb County, there are 75 positive cases of COVID-19 out of 881 tested. Two deaths have been reported in the County.
Below is the information sheet for the new "Safer at Home" Order:
