David D. Dorton—DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
AUBURN, Ala.-On Friday, April 3, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey announced a statewide stay at home ordereffective on Saturday, April 4, at 5 p.m. The amendment to the statewide health order requires all Alabamians to stay at home except as necessary for the following “essential activities:”
- To obtain necessary supplies, such as food, prescriptions, medical supplies, fuel, education-related materials and any other supplies needed to maintain a person’s or pet’s daily routine or to maintain the safety, sanitation and routine operation of a home or residence;
- To obtain or provide necessary services, including necessary dental, medical or surgical procedures; government-funded services or benefits; automobile repair services; education-related activities; any other services necessary to maintain a person’s or pet’s health and safety or to preserve the person’s ability to perform an essential activity;
- To attend religious services that involve fewer than 10 people who are able to maintain a six-foot distance from one another or a “drive-in” worship service where participants remain in their vehicles;
- To take care of others;
- To perform work at “essential businesses and operations” or to perform essential work-related activities, including:
- Work-related activities to maintain the value of a business, such as managing inventory, ensuring security and processing payroll and employee benefits;
- Work-related activities to enable people to work or shop remotely from their residences or to allow people to buy products through drive-by, curbside or door-to-door delivery;
- Work-related activities that do not require regular interaction within six feet of another person;
- To engage in outdoor activity that involves fewer than 10 people who are at least six-feet apart;
- To seek shelter;
- To travel as required by law enforcement or court order, including the transportation of children required by a custody agreement;
- To see family members.
To see how your business is affected, find a list of all "essential businesses and operations" in thestatewide order. Essential businesses listed are ordered to take all reasonable steps, for employers and customers, to avoid gatherings of 10 persons or more and to maintain a consistent six-foot distance between persons. The order also includes a list of non-essential businesses, venues and activities that should be closed to non-employees or not take place.
Those who leave their residence as authorized by the order are required to take reasonable steps to maintain six feet of separation from others.
The order requires essential retailers, including grocery stores, pharmacies and “big box” stores to comply with the following rules:
- Occupancy shall be limited to no more than 50% of the normal occupancy load as determined by the fire marshal. The “emergency maximum occupancy rate” must be posted in a conspicuous place, and staff must be posted at store entrances and exits to enforce this requirement.
- An employee of an essential retailer may not knowingly allow customers or patrons to congregate within six feet of one another.
- Essential retailers must take reasonable steps to comply with guidelines on sanitation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Alabama Department of Public Health.
The order will remain in effect until 5 p.m. on April 30. Find more details in thefull order.