May 11: church services, in-house dining allowed; salons, gyms open

By:
0
2661

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Friday announced the rollout of the next phase of her Safer at Home Order, “Proceeding with Caution,” effective Monday, May 11, 2020. These changes are in effect until May 22, 2020 at 5 p.m.

Key changes include:

Non-work-related gatherings (including church services): The 10-person limit is removed. These gatherings are allowed as long as people can maintain a 6-foot distance between persons from different households. 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.

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— may open and shall comply with the following rules:

  • Social distancing. Employees shall not knowingly allow clients or persons accompanying a client to congregate within 6 feet of a person from another
  • Facial coverings. Each employee shall wear a mask, or other facial covering that covers his or her nostrils and mouth, at all times while providing services within 6 feet of a client.
  • Hand sanitation.
    • Employees shall wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water immediately before providing services within 6 feet of a
    • 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 6 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.

 

In addition to complying with the requirements of this paragraph, close-contact service providers are strongly encouraged to read and implement the Alabama Department of Public Health’s “Guidelines for Close Contact Personal Service Businesses,” available at https://alabamapublichealth.gov/covid19/assets/cov-sah-close-contact.pdf.

Athletic facilities. Athletic facilities—such as fitness centers and commercial gyms, spas, and yoga, barre, and spin facilities—may open subject to social-distancing and sanitation rules and guidelines. Facilities shall comply with the following rules:

  • Social distancing.
    • Employees shall not knowingly allow patrons or guests to congregate within 6 feet of a person from another
    • Employees shall not knowingly allow patrons or guests to participate in any of the athletic activities prohibited in paragraph 9—including sports that involve interaction with another person of closer than 6 feet and activities that require use of shared sporting apparatus and
    • Employees must take reasonable steps to prevent people from congregating in lobby areas, break rooms, and other common areas.
  • Limits on facility access. An athletic facility must limit facility occupancy to 50 percent of the normal occupancy load as determined by the fire marshal. Athletic facilities must also prohibit patrons and guests from accessing showers, hot tubs, steam rooms, lockers, saunas and other recreational water or spa facilities. Pools may be open subject to the social-distancing rules of this
  • Facial coverings. 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 clients or guests.

 

In addition to complying with the requirements of this paragraph, operators of athletic facilities are strongly encouraged to read and implement the Alabama Department of Public Health’s “Guidelines for Athletic Facilities,” available at https://alabamapublichealth.gov/covid19/assets/cov-sah-athletic-facilities.pdf.

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:

  • Entertainment venues as follows:
    • Night clubs
    • Bowling alleys
    • Arcades
    • Concert venues
    • Theaters, auditoriums, and performing arts centers
    • Tourist attractions (including museums and planetariums)
    • Racetracks
    • Indoor children’s play areas
    • Adult entertainment venues
    • Casinos
    • Bingo halls
    • Venues operated by social clubs
  • Athletic activities as follows:
    • Sports that involve 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

 

Beaches. Beaches are open. Anyone using the beaches must maintain a consistent 6-foot distance between himself or herself and all persons from a different 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.

Restaurants and similar establishments. All restaurants, bars, breweries or similar establishments may open with limited table seating, 6 feet between tables and subject to additional sanitation rules and guidelines:

  • Such establishments may continue to offer food for take-out or delivery provided the social distancing protocols, including maintaining a consistent 6-foot distance 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 6 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.

 

In addition to complying with the requirements of this paragraph, establishments subject to this paragraph are strongly encouraged to read and implement the Alabama Department of Public Health’s “Guidelines for Restaurants and Bars,” available at https://alabamapublichealth.gov/covid19/assets/cov-sah-restaurants-bars.pdf.

Read the full amended Safer at Home Order below.

Copyright 2020 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Safer at Home Order FINAL 5… by TheCullmanTribune on Scribd

avatar

Wendy Sack

wendy@cullmantribune.com