ORDER OF THE STATE HEALTH OFFICER SUSPENDING CERTAIN PUBLIC GATHERINGS DUE TO RISK OF INFECTION BY COVID-19 (APPLICABLE STATEWIDE) AMENDED JUNE 30, 2020WHEREAS Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been detected in Alabama; WHEREAS the appearance of COVID-19 in the State poses the potential of widespread exposure to an infectious agent that poses significant risk of substantial harm to a large number of people; WHEREAS the State Board of Health has designated COVID-19 to be a disease of epidemic potential, a threat to the health and welfare of the public, or otherwise of public health importance; WHEREAS on March 13, 2020, on recommendation of the State Health Officer, Kay Ivey, Governor of the State of Alabama, declared a state public health emergency exists in the State of Alabama; WHEREAS on March 16, 2020, the Jefferson County Health Officer, in response to a rapidly growing number of cases of COVID-19 being detected in Jefferson County, issued an order suspending certain public gatherings in that county; WHEREAS on March 17, 2020, the State Health Officer issued a similar order for counties surrounding Jefferson, including Blount, St. Clair, Shelby, Tuscaloosa, and Walker Counties, WHEREAS on March 19, 2020, the State Health Officer issued an order, and on March 20, 2020, March 27, 2020, April 3, 2020, April 28, 2020, May 8, 2020, and May 21, 2020, amended orders, of statewide application suspending certain public gatherings; WHEREAS social-distancing and related measures remain necessary on a statewide basis to prevent the spread of COVID-19; and WHEREAS Ala. Code § 22-2-2 authorizes the State Health Officer, on behalf of the State Board of Health, to direct that conditions prejudicial to health in public places within the State be abated; NOW THEREFORE, THESE PREMISES CONSIDERED, it is ordered that the following Safer at Home order be implemented statewide: 1. Recommendations for individuals. Effective April 30, 2020, at 5:00 P.M., all individuals—and especially vulnerable persons—are encouraged to exercise personal responsibility in slowing the spread of COVID-19 by:
“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 system is compromised such as by chemotherapy for cancer and other conditions requiring such therapy. 2. 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 provision 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, http://alvoad.communityos.org/cms. While under quarantine, the person shall take precautions as directed by his or her health care provider or the Alabama Department of Public Health to prevent the spread of the disease to others. 3. Non-work related gatherings. Effective May 11, 2020, all non-work related gatherings of any size, including drive-in gatherings, 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 https://alabamapublichealth.gov/covid19/assets/cov-sah-worship.pdf. 4. Protections for employees. Effective May 11, 2020, and unless otherwise specified by this order, all employers shall take reasonable steps, where practicable as work duties permit, to protect their employees by:
In addition to complying with the requirements of this paragraph, employers are strongly encouraged to read and implement the Alabama Department of Public Health’s “Guidelines for Safeguarding All Businesses,” available at https://alabamapublichealth.gov/covid19/assets/covsah-businesses.pdf. 5. Protections for customers, etc. Effective May 11, 2020, and unless otherwise specified by this order, 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:
6. Retailers. Effective May 11, 2020, all retail stores shall comply with the following rules:
7. Close-contact service providers. Effective May 11, 2020, 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:
8. Athletic facilities. Effective May 11, 2020, athletic facilities—such as fitness centers and commercial gyms, spas, and yoga, barre, and spin facilities—shall comply with the following rules:
9. Entertainment venues. Effective May 22, 2020, at 5:00 P.M., entertainment venues shall comply with the following rules:
“Entertainment venue” also does not include “night clubs,” which are covered by, and subject to, paragraph 18. In addition to complying with the requirements of this paragraph, entertainment venues are strongly encouraged to read and implement the Alabama Department of Public Health’s “Guidelines for Entertainment Venues and Tourist Attractions,” available at https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/covid19/assets/cov-sah-entertainment-tourist.pdf. 10. Athletic activities. Effective May 22, 2020, at 5:00 P.M., persons attending or participating in athletic activities shall comply with the following rules:
11. Beaches. Effective May 11, 2020, anyone using the beaches shall maintain a consistent six-foot distance between himself or herself and all persons from a different 7 household. For purposes of this section, the term “beach” means the sandy shoreline area abutting the Gulf of Mexico, whether privately or publicly owned, including beach access points. 12. Senior Citizen Centers. Effective March 20, 2020, all regular programs at Senior Citizen Centers shall be ended except that Senior Citizen Centers and their partners are urged to assure that their clients continue to receive needed meals via curbside pick-up or delivery. 13. Educational institutions. Effective June 1, 2020, all schools, public and private— including elementary, secondary, postsecondary, technical, and specialty schools, and colleges and universities—shall comply with the following rules:
14. Child day care facilities. Effective May 23, 2020, at 5:00 P.M., facilities providing child day care, including any child day care facility described in Ala. Code § 38-7-2, shall comply with the following rules:
15. Camps. Effective May 23, 2020, day and overnight youth summer camps shall comply with the following rules:
16. Hospitals and similar institutions. Effective July 3, 2020, all Hospitals and Nursing Home/Long Term Care Facilities (including Assisted Living and Specialty Care Assisted Living Facilities) shall limit the entrance of visitors, as defined by the facility, and non-essential health care personnel, except for certain compassionate care situations such as maternity, end-of-life, and support for persons with disabilities, as well as any other situations where the presence of a caregiver would facilitate appropriate care. 17. Medical procedures. Effective April 30, 2020, at 5:00 P.M., dental, medical, or surgical procedures may proceed unless the State Health Officer or his designee determines that performing such procedures, or any category of them (whether statewide or regionally), would unacceptably reduce access to personal protective equipment or other resources necessary to diagnose and treat COVID-19. Providers performing these procedures shall follow all applicable COVID-19-related rules adopted by a state regulatory board or by the Alabama Department of Public Health. In the absence of such rules, providers should take reasonable steps to comply with applicable COVID-19-related guidelines from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the CDC, including “Re-opening Facilities to Provide Non-emergent NonCOVID-19 Healthcare: Phase I” from CMS, available at https://www.cms.gov/files/document/covid-flexibility-reopen-essential-non-covid-services.pdf, and “Infection Control Guidance for Healthcare Professionals about Coronavirus (COVID-19)” from the CDC, available at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/infectioncontrol.html. 18. Restaurants and similar establishments. Effective May 11, 2020, all restaurants, bars, breweries, or similar establishments shall operate as follows:
19. Duration. This Order shall remain in full force and effect until 5:00 P.M. on July 31, 2020. Prior to 5:00 P.M. on July 31, 2020, a determination shall be made whether to extend this Order—or, if circumstances permit, to change this Order. 20. Preemption. To the extent this Order conflicts with any order previously issued by the State Health Officer concerning COVID-19 mitigation measures, this Order supersedes and preempts the conflicting provisions of the previously issued order effective on the dates specified above. This Order also supersedes and preempts all orders previously issued by the Jefferson and Mobile County Health Officers concerning COVID-19 mitigation measures, and this Order shall remain in full force and effect until rescinded or modified by order of the State Health Officer or its expiration. After the date this order is issued, the Jefferson and Mobile County Health Officers are authorized, after approval by the State Health Officer, to implement more stringent measures as local circumstances require. This Order also supersedes and preempts any county and municipal orders or ordinances, whenever adopted, that purport to impose less stringent COVID-19-related curfew or quarantine measures. Done on this 30th day of June, 2020. _________________________ Scott Harris, M.D., M.P.H. State Health Officer
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Athens-Limestone County Tourism is providing a collection of press releases and information regarding closures, modified hours of operation, and other information about Covid-19 and its impacts via this blog. Archives
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