HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — Governor Kay Ivey's decision to extend Alabama's Safer-at-Home order comes with loosened restrictions for restaurants, bars, and breweries.
People will still be required to wear face coverings any time they enter a restaurant or business until April 9, 2021.
During Thursday's COVID-19 update, Governor Ivey said, "If businesses believe wearing masks are important to keeping their doors open and their employees and customers safe, and y'all many do, then they'll have five weeks from today to get ready to impose their own policies."
Restaurants and bars have been hit hard during the pandemic, and some want to ease restrictions as soon as the state allows.
Other restaurants think it's too early to roll back restrictions and plan to keep their rules for masks in place.
Mone, a manager at Mellow Mushroom, said, "You come into an establishment and you don't see the employees wearing masks, you're going to have a problem. You're not going to feel safe. You're not going to feel like the place is sanitized properly."
"I think some customers are still aware of it just as we are that it's still a danger, so we want to make sure the customers feel safe and secure whenever they come into our restaurant," said Kristopher Yamada, an employee at Kamado Ramen. "We're ready to continue to wear them even after the mask mandate has ended just for customer comfort."
Many businesses say they're listening to recommendations from health experts and plan to require masks until more people are vaccinated.
"The vaccinations are still being rolled out," said Mone. "There's still a waiting list that's going on, so until people are actually vaccinated and feel comfortable, those restrictions should not be lifted at all."
Under the state's revised order, restaurants, bars, and breweries no longer have to limit the size of parties at tables.
Some businesses believe separation is another key to keeping people safe from COVID-19.
"For the most part in times like this, if we can spread people out as best we can, we will," said Yamada.
For now, restaurants must still separate or seat people at least six feet apart, and they must continue to implement extra sanitation guidelines.
For the most up-to-date COVID vaccine information, check out this WZDX story: Alabama COVID vaccine updates
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