MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Governor Kay Ivey and State Health Officer Scott Harris announced changes to COVID-19 guidelines for Alabama. A new Safer-at Home order goes into place on May 11 and remains in place until at May 22.
One of the significant changes is that restrictions on group gathering sizes that can maintain 6-foot social distancing have been lifted. The Alabama Department of Public Health created a document with guidelines to help houses of worship protect attendees and workers if they choose to reopen.
Restaurants, bars, and breweries may also reopen for on-premises service, although they are encouraged to continue delivery and curbside service. There are restrictions, including:
-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.
- No self-service by guests at drink stations, buffets, or salad bars.
Other changes in the new order allow close contact businesses including barber shops, hair salons, waxing salons, threading salons, nail salons and spas, body art facilities, tattoo services, and massage therapy establishments and services to reopen on May 11, subject to strict facial covering, sanitation, and specific social distancing guidelines.
Fitness centers and commercial gyms, spas, and yoga, barre, and spin facilities can also reopen subject to specific social distancing, sanitation, and face covering guidelines.
Entertainment venues remain closed, as well as athletic activities that include:
- interaction with another person of closer than 6 feet
- activities that require use of shared sporting apparatus and equipment
- activities on commercial or public playground equipment
As of May 11, the following restrictions are in place for beaches:
- anyone using the beaches must maintain a consistent six-foot distance between himself or herself and all persons from a different household. The term “beach” means the sandy shoreline area abutting the Gulf of Mexico, whether privately or publicly owned, including beach access points.
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