Alabama finally has a clearer picture about what life will look like as the state eases restrictions, after a new order from Gov. Kay Ivey.
Weeks of speculation and uncertainty for business and religious communities are beginning to clear up, as the state eases the reins on forced closures. Starting on Monday, Alabamians will no longer be prohibited by law from gatherings of 10 people or more, or from getting a haircut or working out at a commercial gym. But those activities won’t look like they used to either.
The reopenings are conditional, and nearly all come with two sets of guidelines: the minimum requirements that will allow a business to reopen, and the recommendations that can limit the spread of the virus but won’t be mandatory.
Ivey cautioned that the virus had not gone away and would still be a threat, even as businesses reopen. Alabama has seen more than 200 new cases every day so far in May, and saw 355 new cases reported Thursday, the highest single-day total yet. Some of that is due to increased testing. But Alabama is also seeing deaths rise in May. Coronavirus had infected more than 9,600 Alabamians and caused 390 deaths as of Saturday.
“The threat of this disease continues to be active and it is deadly,” Ivey said.
So as Alabama businesses emerge into a world where the virus is still active, here’s what that will look like:
Individuals urged, not required to stay inside
While the state will be letting up on which activities are banned by law, they still encourage extreme caution.
State officials are still asking individuals to limit travel outside their homes as much as possible, and to wear masks in public. But now, gatherings are only prohibited if they “cannot maintain a consistent six-foot distance between persons from different households.”
That opens the doors for religious services, funerals, and even socially distanced graduation ceremonies, but health officials still urge caution.
But these events could look different in different places, as the state relies on individuals and churches and businesses to decide exactly how to achieve distance.
Take high school graduations. The Jefferson County schools are planning some kind of drive-through ceremony. Elsewhere there are plans for staggered events on school campuses, possibly handing out diplomas to 20 students at a time, with family groups seated together, but six feet from any other family groups.
In Jefferson County, health officer Dr. Mark Wilson recommended that people continue to avoid large gatherings and wear masks in public for at least the next two weeks, to see if the statewide reopenings cause another spike in COVID cases.
"Just because you’re allowed to do something doesn’t mean it’s the smart thing or the right thing to do,” Wilson said on Friday.
All employers
Guidelines will also vary by business. But there are some clear minimums in Alabama. Employers are still required to “take reasonable steps” to keep six feet of distance between employees and to prevent employees who are sick from coming to work.
They are encouraged to provide hand washing stations for employees, to regularly disinfect frequently touched surfaces like door handles and counter tops, to minimize business travel and facilitate teleworking wherever possible.
Those employees who do report to work outside their home should be prepared to face questions about their health and possibly a temperature check when they show up to work. People with a temperature higher than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit should be sent home.
The guidance for all employers recommends asking workers if they are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, including fever, cough, loss of taste or smell and vomiting or diarrhea in the last 48 hours. The state says the “best practice” is to take employees’ temperature when they arrive at work, and the “minimum practice” is for the employee to take their own temperature before they leave for work.
Retailers are still required to follow the procedures of Ivey’s last order reducing the maximum occupancy of their stores. And store employees must enforce social distancing between customers from different households.
Hair, grooming services reopen
On Monday, "close contact” businesses like barber shops, hair salons, waxing, threading, nail businesses, body art facilities, tattoo services, and massage therapy will be allowed to reopen but will offer a different experience for their customers.
Business owners are required to keep customers of different households at least six feet apart at all times and for all employees to wear masks or other face coverings whenever they are within six feet of a client.
Employees are required to wash their hands with soap and water “immediately before providing services within 6 feet of a client.” All “close contact” employees are encouraged, and nail salon employees are required to wear gloves while working near clients and to change those gloves in between customers.
Those are the requirements, but further recommendations for those businesses may look different from one salon to another.
The state recommends that all such services be offered by appointment only, with enough time in between clients to thoroughly clean and disinfect the work stations. Cashless payments are preferred and any credit card machines or other sales equipment should be disinfected between each use.
Clients should wait in their car until the business is ready for them, and reading materials, water coolers and other common items that could be touched by multiple people should be removed.
The guidance recommends that employees ask each customer if they’ve experienced symptoms of COVID or know they’ve been exposed, and if so to delay their visit for 10-14 days after the last symptom or exposure. Employees are encouraged, but not required to check the temperature of clients before offering service.
Gyms, fitness centers face stricter rules
Gyms and fitness centers will be required to keep people at least six feet apart and to disinfect equipment between uses.
Sports that require people to be closer than six feet apart are still banned, as are “activities that require use of shared sporting apparatus and equipment.”
Showers, hot tubs, steam rooms, lockers, saunas and other recreational water or spa facilities will be closed. Pools can be opened, if they can maintain social distancing limits.
Fitness center employees are required to wear masks “at all times while in regular interaction with clients or guests,” and the customers are encouraged to wear masks.
The state’s recommendations for athletic facilities also suggest questioning each user about whether they’ve experienced symptoms and under “best practices” checking their temperature. Facilities are also encouraged to leave doors and windows open as much as possible for better ventilation.
Group classes would only be allowed if the groups can maintain their minimum distances and the equipment should be wiped in between each use.
Dining out
Restaurants and bars have been limited to takeout only for weeks, but on Monday, people will be allowed to eat and drink in dining rooms again.
What’s required? Mandatory social distancing, with at least six feet between tables and half the normal occupancy. No more than eight people will be allowed to sit at a table. Buffets, salad bars, and self-serve drink stations will not be allowed. All employees who interact within six feet of customers are required to wear a mask.
What’s recommended? The state recommends that restaurants also consider a reservations-only business model and continue to offer take-out and delivery service as much as possible. The ADPH suggests creating a checklist of common surfaces to disinfect regularly and designating a staff member to making sure those surfaces are cleaned often. Restrooms should be cleaned “as often as feasible but at least every two hours.”
Anything that might be touched by multiple people is a possible point of transmission. The state recommends using disposable menus or menus that can be disinfected between customers. Single-use packets of condiments like ketchup or salt are recommended instead of keeping bottles at the tables
Plexiglass or plastic dividers are recommended at check-out counters or other areas where the staff may interact with customers, and the restaurants and bars should try to avoid having people congregate in the entrance and exit or waiting areas, illustrating proper distance with signage, tape of other visible reminders.
“Spacing should be illustrated, as much as possible, in a waiting area, kitchen, back of the house, laundry, and prep area,” the Alabama plan states.
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May 10, 2020 at 08:17PM
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What Alabama’s updated ‘safer at home’ plan means for you - AL.com
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