April 6, 2020
Governor Kay Ivey and the Alabama Department of Health have released answers to frequently asked questions about the shelter in place order for individuals and for businesses. There is also a one-page flyer located here showing which businesses are non-essential versus essential.
April 3, 2020
Alabama
Governor Kay Ivey and State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris issued a shelter in place order for Alabama residents effective at 5:00 p.m. on April 4, 2020 until 5:00 p.m. on April 30, 2020. The order requires Alabama residents to stay in their places of residence unless their activities are excepted from the order. Section 1 of the order lists exceptions to the order and include "essential activities" such as obtaining necessary supplies for themselves or others, attending certain religious services, engaging in outdoor activity and working at "essential businesses and operations." Section 2 of the order defines "essential businesses and operations." Essential businesses and operations are to take all reasonable steps to avoid gatherings of 10 or more persons and to maintain a distance of 6 feet between persons.
Section 6 of the order requires that "essential retailers," like grocery stores, pharmacies and big box stores, limit occupancy to 50% of normal occupancy, keep 6 feet between customers, and comply with CDC and Alabama Department of Public Health sanitation guidance. Section 7 of the order allows all businesses to continue to operate through curbside pickup, delivery or remotely.
Section 9 of the order requires that all persons that test positive for COVID-19 are to be quarantined in their place of residence for 14 days and cannot leave their place of residence other than to seek necessary medical treatment.
To view the order, click here.
Governor Kay Ivey issued a Sixth Supplemental State of Emergency Proclamation directing all state, county and local law enforcement officers to cease enforcing any eviction orders. To view the Proclamation, click here.
Birmingham
The Birmingham City Council has amended its previous ordinance that established a "Shelter in Place Order" in the City of Birmingham. This amendment extends the Shelter in Place Order until April 30, 2020 effective immediately.
To learn more, click here.
April 2, 2020
Alabama
Governor Kay Ivey issued a Fifth Supplemental State of Emergency Proclamation that expands the scope of practice for Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners, Certified Nurse Midwives, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, physician assistants and anesthesia assistants. The Proclamation also requires Licensing Boards to adopt emergency rules for expedited licensing and temporary permits for the practice of pharmacy, nursing, and medicine by out-of-state healthcare practitioners and for expedited reinstatement of certain medical licenses. The Proclamation authorizes temporary waivers to the Certificate of Need process and expedited temporary pharmacy permits.
The Proclamation also amends the Governor's Fourth Supplemental State of Emergency Proclamation, allowing for remote notarization and witnessing of documents through videoconferencing technology. This portion of the order takes effect on April 3, 2020.
The Proclamation also contains provisions related to public meetings by governmental and quasi-governmental entities and remote shareholder meetings. There are also provisions to reduce the number of local inmates held in county jails.
The Proclamation may be viewed here.
Montgomery County
The Montgomery County Commission and the Town of Pike Road have imposed a curfew for both the incorporated area of the Town of Pike Road and the unincorporated area of Montgomery County from 10:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. seven days a week beginning April 2nd.
This curfew mirrors the curfew established by the Mayor of Montgomery for the City of Montgomery on March 27th. All of Montgomery County is now under a curfew order.
To learn more, click here.
April 1, 2020
Governor Kay Ivey urged Alabama Small Business Owners to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by applying now for federal financial relief. To learn more, click here.
March 28, 2020
Alabama Department of Health clarified the parts of its March 27, 2020 order regarding public gatherings with the following: (1) no non-work gatherings of ten or more people are permitted; (2) if a consistent six-foot distance between persons can be maintained, then non-work gatherings of less than ten people are permitted; and (3) essential businesses are permitted to have gatherings of ten or more persons, but must take all reasonable steps to avoid such gatherings and to maintain a six-foot distance between persons.
To view the Alabama Department of Health's clarifying release, which includes a list of non-essential businesses, click here.
To see the original Alabama Department of Health order, click here.
March 27, 2020
Alabama State Health Officer Scott Harris signed a statewide Order of the State Health Officer Suspending Certain Public Gatherings Due to Risk of Infection by COVID-19 effective March 28, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. on April 17, 2020. The Order suspends all non-work related gatherings of 10 persons or more, or gatherings of any size, at which a consistent six-foot distance between persons cannot be maintained. Employers must take steps to meet these standards for employees and customers. The order requires "non-essential" businesses to be closed to non-employees. Section 2 of the Order defines "non-essential" business. Some examples of "non-essential" businesses included in the order are entertainment and athletic facilities, salons, retail stores. The Order closes all schools and prohibits visitors at hospitals and care facilities, with certain exceptions listed in Section 5 and 6. Section 7 of the order postpones all dental, medical or surgical procedures, subject to exceptions. Lastly, the order prohibits on-premises consumption of food and drink at restaurants and other similar establishments.
To view the order, click here.
City of Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed has enacted a curfew beginning March 27th. The curfew requires that persons within the City of Montgomery remain in their places of residence from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. 7 days a week. Those providing or seeking essential services are excepted from the curfew, as further detailed in Sections (a) and (d) of the proclamation. The proclamation also prohibits public and private gatherings of any size where six feet cannot be maintained between persons and prohibits all travel, unless the gathering or travel falls under the exceptions in Section (d) of the proclamation.
To view the proclamation, click here.
March 26, 2020
The Mayor of Tuscaloosa has signed Executive Order 2020-007 instituting a 24-hour public safety curfew beginning Sunday, March 29th at 10 a.m. and continuing until April 11th. The Executive Order requires the closure of all "non-essential businesses and services." Examples of non-essential businesses include: entertainment and recreation facilitates, salons, and retail stores. A full list of exemptions to the order and non-essential businesses is included in the order. The order also mandates that essential businesses must practice social distancing, and all restaurants, bars, breweries, and similar establishments can only offer take-out or delivery services. Otherwise, the order is very similar to the previous limited curfew instituted by Executive Oder 2020-006 on March 25th.
March 25, 2020
Birmingham
The Birmingham City Council approved an agreement with the Birmingham Business Resource Center allowing the city to transfer $1.2 million into the Birmingham Strong emergency small business loan fund. The loans are available to small, for-profit businesses with less than 50 employees. The business must be located within the Birmingham city limits and have been operating for at least one year. The deadline to apply is March 27th at 11:59 p.m.
The loan must be used to either: (1) limit reductions in payroll or staff size, (2) maintain business operations, and (3) fund a business model reconfiguration in response to COVID-19.
For more information, click here.
Tuscaloosa
City of Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox signed Executive Order 2020-006 establishing a limited city-wide curfew from 10 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. that begins on Friday, March 27th and remains in effect through Friday, April 3rd. There are various exceptions to the curfew.
The order requires all persons within the City of Tuscaloosa to remain in their places of residence. Certain persons and activities are exempted from the curfew. The order also prohibits private and public gatherings of 25 or more persons where a consistent distance of six feet cannot be maintained, unless the gatherings are for exempt activities. Lastly, the order prohibits all travel unless related to exempt activities.
To view the order, which includes the exempt activities, click here.
March 24, 2020
The City of Birmingham passed a shelter in place ordinance effective immediately until April 3, 2020 at 12:00 a.m. The ordinance applies to residents and businesses in the City of Birmingham. Businesses not on the nonessential businesses may keep operating, and the ordinance does not close any additional businesses beyond those already ordered closed by the Jefferson County Department of Health. Under the ordinance, residents will be asked to remain at home and only leave for essential purposes. Those purposes include work, visiting essential businesses like grocery stores, financial institutions and gas stations, retrieving curbside pickup from restaurants; attending doctor's appointments, and exercising outside, including biking, hiking and running – as long as six feet of social distancing is used. Violation is punishable by 180 days in jail or up to a $500 fine.
The ordinance may be found here.
March 23, 2020
Governor Kay Ivey issues a third supplemental state of emergency postponing the 4/15 tax deadline to 7/15/20 for the following taxes:
- Individual income tax
- Corporate income tax
- Financial institutions excise tax
- Business privilege tax
Additionally, the Commissioner of Revenue has been given authority to waive interest through July 15 for any tax payment due with connection to a tax return with a due date on or after March 15.
The order may be found here.
March 22, 2020
The Jefferson County Health Department has ordered more types of businesses to close, including retail stores, barbershops and hair salons. The closures must be in place by 5:00 p.m. on March 23rd. The order may be found here. A list of all nonessential businesses may be found here.
March 21, 2020
Governor Kay Ivey announced today that small businesses across Alabama negatively impacted by the coronavirus pandemic are eligible for assistance under the U.S. Small Business Administration's Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. Businesses must qualify for EIDL assistance. For more information, go to the SBA's COVID-19 disaster assistance web page.
March 20, 2020
Governor Kay Ivey and the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) on Friday issued an update to the statewide health order to aid in Alabama's efforts to contain the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Effective today, all non-work related gatherings of 25 persons or more, or non-work related gatherings of any size that cannot maintain a consistent six-foot distance between persons, are prohibited. Employers shall take all reasonable steps to meet these standards for employees and customers.
The updated order also expands the availability of child daycare in the state as long as certain guidelines are followed, and includes clarifying language regarding senior citizen centers and schools.
The updated health order is available here.
March 19, 2020
Governor Kay Ivey and the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) on Thursday issued a statewide health order to aid in Alabama's efforts to contain the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Statewide through April 5:
- All gatherings of 25 persons or more, or gatherings of any size that cannot maintain a consistent six-foot distance between persons, are prohibited. This Order shall apply to all gatherings, events or activities that bring 25 or more persons in a single room or single space at the same time.
- Any restaurant, bar, brewery or similar establishments shall not permit on-premise consumption of food or drink. Governor Ivey continues to encourage patrons to visit their local eateries for take-out or delivery provided the social distancing protocols include maintaining a consistent six-foot distance between persons are followed.
- All beaches will be closed effective today at 5:00 p.m. For clarification, the term "beach" means the sandy shoreline area abutting the Gulf of Mexico, whether privately or publicly owned, including beach access points.
- Preschools and childcare centers will be closed effective at close of school or business today. This shall not apply to licensed childcare centers that provide services exclusively to employees with: State and Local Governments, First Responders (including EMS and Fire Services), Law Enforcement, Hospitals, Nursing Home/Long Term Care Facilities (including Assisted Living and Specialty Care Assisted Living Facilities), End Stage Renal Disease Treatment Centers, Pharmacies and grocery stores.
- Effective immediately, all Hospitals and Nursing Home/Long Term Care Facilities (including Assisted Living and Specialty Care Assisted Living Facilities) shall prohibit visitation of all visitors and non-essential health care personnel, except for certain compassionate care situations such as maternity and end-of-life.
- All elective dental and medical procedures shall be delayed, effective immediately.
The statewide social distancing order is available here.
March 18, 2020
Governor Kay Ivey on Wednesday announced the Primary Runoff Election would be held on July 14, 2020 due to the concerns surrounding the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.
The order also requires the closure of all K-12 public schools at the end of the day Wednesday, March 18, 2020, with reopening scheduled for the start of school on Monday, April 6, 2020, should circumstances permit.
State agencies and local awarding authorities are authorized by this order to enter into contracts for goods and services without public advertisement to the extent necessary to respond to COVID-19.
The supplemental State of Emergency is available here.
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