New, Revised “Safer-at-Home” Order Goes into Effect TODAY (Monday, May 11th)

UPDATE:

The new “Safer at Home” order re-opening restaurants and bars, gyms, salons and churches across Alabama goes into effect TODAY (Monday, May 11th).

Governor Kay Ivey announced the changes during Friday’s Montgomery press conference; the new order will remain in place until May 22nd.

Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth, a leading proponent for re-opening the state thanked Ivey and State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris for “leveling the playing field for small business owners and employees by allowing the restaurants, gyms, barber shops, and other job providers to resume operations.  He added “Countless employers and workers who simply want to return to their jobs have reached out to me through email, texts, and social media over the past several weeks, and I have passed along their concerns and shared their frustrations,”

Changes Include

Lifting the ban on group sizes of 10 or more, but all non-work related gatherings of any size that cannot maintain a six-foot distance between people from different households remains prohibited. (this covers church gatherings though Ivey urged houses of worship consult the Alabama Department of Public Health’s “Guidelines for Places of Worship.”)

Restaurants, bars and breweries may reopen as long as they limit the party size to no more than 8 people and maintain at least 6 feet between people seated at different tables, booths, chairs and stools. Self-service by guests at drink stations, buffets or salad bars is prohibited.

Gyms and other athletic facilities such as fitness centers and commercial gyms, spas, yoga, barre and spin facilities can reopen with social distancing and hygiene measures in place. Access must be limited to 50% of normal occupancy and employees must wear masks.

Close-contact providers, such as salons, barber shops, tattoo parlors and nail salons may reopen with social distancing and hygiene in place.

Gathering size limits for the beaches are eliminated as long as people maintain a 6-foot distance between people from other households.

What’s NOT Changing

Daycare facilities are limited to 12 children or less per room.

Retail stores must maintain their 50% occupancy rate.

Still closed: Night clubs, bowling alleys, arcades, concert venues, theaters, auditoriums, performing arts centers, tourist attractions such as museums, racetracks, indoor children’s play areas, adult entertainment venues, casinos and bingo halls.

Still prohibited: Sports that involve interaction with another person closer than 6 feet; activities that require use of shared sports equipment; and activities on commercial or public playgrounds.

Other Orders

Also of note – on Friday – Ivey issued two different emergency proclamations related to the coronavirus pandemic, the first designed to protect healthcare workers and businesses from lawsuits and the second related to the July 14th primary run-off election.

The first order covers “reasonable protections from the risk and expense of lawsuits” for businesses and healthcare providers that “comply with or reasonably attempt to comply with applicable health guidance.”

In a statement, Ivey said the step is needed to protect businesses as Alabama’s economy looks to restart.

“I want to do everything within my authority to protect businesses as Alabama’s economy gets up and running again. As we resume operations, the very last thing a business owner needs to worry about is a frivolous lawsuit from responding to COVID-19,” Ivey said. “Let me be clear, this in no way shields them from serious misconduct. If someone knowingly abuses the public during a time of crisis, they should be held accountable and prosecuted as such.”

The second proclamation gives probate judges more flexibility related to the July 14th primary run-off election, such as reducing the number of poll workers or conducting poll worker training remotely.

The same order cuts read take for electric co-ops seeking to obtain emergency loans.

(AL.COM/www.al.com)

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