More businesses will open under new order

Clarion Top News

Thursday, 14 May 2020 10:57

On May 8, 2020, Governor Kay Ivey amended the Safer at Home Order for the state of Alabama.
“Individuals:
All individuals – and especially vulnerable persons – are encouraged to exercise personal responsibility in slowing the spread of COVID-19 by: minimizing travel outside the home, especially if sick; wearing face coverings around people from other households when it is necessary to leave the home; washing hands frequently with soap and water or hand sanitizer, especially after touching frequently used items or surfaces; refraining from touching one’s face; sneezing or coughing into a tissue, or the inside of one’s elbow; disinfecting frequently used items and surfaces as much as possible.

Vulnerable persons means individuals 65 years and older, or individuals with serious underlying health conditions, including high blood pressure, chronic lung disease, diabetes, obesity, asthma and those whose immune systems is compromised such as by chemotherapy for cancer and other conditions requiring such therapy.

Quarantine for infected persons:
Effective immediately, any person who has tested positive for COVID-19 – other than institutionalized persons – shall be quarantined to their place of residence for a period of 14 days, or other period of time as directed by the State Health Officer or his designee, after receiving positive test results. Any person quarantined pursuant to this provisions shall not leave their place of residence for any reason other than to seek necessary medical treatment. Any person requiring assistance while under quarantine may contact Alabama Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, www.alvoad.community.org/cms. While under quarantine, the person shall take precautions as directed by their health care provider or the Alabama Department of Public Health to prevent the spread of the disease to others.

Non-work related gatherings:
Effective May 11, 2020, all non-work related gatherings of any size that cannot maintain a consistent six-foot distance between persons from different households are prohibited.
Organizers of religious gatherings are strongly encouraged to read and implement the Alabama Department of Public Health’s “Guidelines for Places of Worship,” available at www.alabamapublichealth.gov/covid19/assets/cov-sah-worship.pdf.

Protections for employees:
All employers shall take reasonable steps where practicable as work duties permit, to protect their employees by: maintaining six feet of separation between employees; regularly disinfecting frequently used items and surfaces; encouraging handwashing; preventing employees who are sick from coming into contact with other persons; facilitating remote working arrangements; minimizing employee travel.

Protections for customers:
The operator of any business, government office or other establishment open to the public shall take reasonable steps, where practicable, to protect their customers, constituents or other guests by: maintaining six feet of separation between such persons (except those persons who share the same household; regularly disinfecting frequently used items and surfaces.

Retailers:
All retail stores shall comply with the following rules: Occupancy shall be limited to no more than 50 percent of the normal occupancy load as determined by the fire marshal. This emergency maximum occupancy rate shall be posted in a conspicuous place, and enough staff shall be posted at the store entrances and exits to enforce this requirement; an employee of the retail store may not knowingly allow customers or patrons to congregate within six feet of a person from another household; the retail store shall take reasonable steps to comply with guidelines on sanitation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Alabama Department of Public Health.

Close-contact service providers:
Close-contact service providers such as barber shops, hair salons, waxing salons, threading salons, nail salons and spas, body art facilities, tattoo services and massage therapy establishments and services shall comply with the following rules: employees shall not knowingly allow clients or persons accompanying a client to congregate within six feet of a person from another household; each employee shall wear a mask or other facial covering that covers their nostrils and mouth at all times while providing services within six feet of a client.

Hand sanitation:
Employees shall wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water immediately before providing services within six feet of a client; employees of all close-contact service providers are encouraged – and employees providing nail services or facial services are required – to wear gloves when providing services within six feet of a client. To the extent employees wear gloves when providing services, they should use a new pair of gloves for each client and should put them on immediately after washing their hands.

Athletic facilities:
Athletic facilities such as fitness centers and commercial gyms, yoga, barre and spin facilities shall comply with the following rules: Employees shall not knowingly allow patrons or guests to congregate within six feet of a person from another household; each employee shall wear a mask or other facial coverings that covers his or her nostrils and mouth at all times while in regular interaction with clients or guests.

Higher risk businesses and activities:
The following businesses, venues and activities shall not take place or be closed to spectators, audience members, or members of the public to which these businesses, venues and activities are normally open: night clubs; bowling alleys; arcades; concert venues; theaters, auditoriums, performing arts centers; tourist attractions; museums; planetariums; racetracks; indoor children’s play areas; adult entertainment venues; casinos; bingo halls; venues operated by social clubs; sports that involve interaction with another person of closer than six feet; activities that require use of shared sporting apparatus and equipment; activities on commercial or public playground equipment.

Beaches:
Anyone using the beaches must maintain a consistent six foot distance between himself or herself an all persons from a different household.

Restaurants and similar establishments:
Such establishments may continue to offer food for take-out or delivery provided the social distancing six foot protocols between persons are followed; such establishments are strongly encouraged to offer online ordering and curbside pick-up of food; hospital food service areas are excluded from this order provided they have their own social distancing plan; insofar as such establishments offer on-premises consumption of food or drink, they must limit the party size at tables to no more than eight persons and maintain at least six feet of separation between people seated at different tables, booths, chairs or stools; each employee shall wear a mask or other facial covering that covers his or her nostrils and mouth at all times while in regular interaction with patrons or guests; such establishments must disallow self-service by guests at drink stations, buffets or salad bars.”