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Ivey issues liberal ‘shelter in place’ order

Gov. Kay Ivey issued today (Friday, April 3) a liberal “shelter in place order” for all Alabama residents and all other individuals living temporarily in the state.

Effective tomorrow (Saturday, April 4), at 5 p.m., every person in Alabama is ordered to stay at his or her place of residence except as necessary to perform any of the following “essential activities”:

A — To obtain necessary supplies. A person may leave his or her place of residence to obtain the following supplies for himself or herself, for other household members, including pets, or for a loved one or friend who cannot or should not leave home or cannot care for himself or herself:
(i) Food and other consumer goods necessary to maintain a person’s daily routine or to maintain the safety, sanitation, and routine operation of a home or residence;
(ii) Supplies needed to work from home;
(iii) Pharmaceutical prescriptions or other medical supplies;
(iv) Fuel for automobiles or other vehicles or other vehicle supplies;
(v) Materials for distance learning or other education-related purposes; and
(vi) Any other supplies necessary to maintain a person’s or pet’s daily routine or to maintain the safety, sanitation, and routine operation of a home or residence.

B — To obtain or provide necessary services. A person may leave his or her place of residence to obtain or provide the following services for himself or herself, for other household members, including pets, or for a loved one or friend who cannot or should not leave home or cannot care for himself or herself:
(i) Allowable dental, medical, or surgical procedures
(ii) Government-funded services or benefits;
(iii) Automobile repair services;
(iv) Services vital to the treatment or care of people with physical, intellectual, or developmental disabilities, or people with substance-use disorders;
(v) Services related to any public or private distance learning activities and education continuity, including all services under education continuity plans approved by the State Superintendent of Education; and
(vi) 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 as defined in this paragraph.

C — To attend religious services. A person may leave his or her place of residence to attend an event that is a religious worship service, wedding, or funeral in either of the following circumstances:
(i) The event involves fewer than 10 people and the people maintain a consistent six-foot distance from one another; or
(ii) The event is a “drive-in” worship service that adheres to the following rules:
–1. All participants shall remain in their vehicles for the entirety of the service;
–2. The participants in each vehicle all share the same place of residence; and
–3. Participants do not come within six feet of participants in other vehicles.

D–To take care of others. A person may leave his or her place of residence to care for a family member, friend, or pet in another household, or to donate blood, or to transport family members, friends, or pets.

E–To work. A person may leave his or her place of residence to perform work at “essential businesses and operations” as defined in paragraph 2 below or to perform essential work-related activities as follows:
(i) Work-related activities to maintain the value of a business, establishment, corporation or other organization, such as managing inventory, ensuring security, and processing payroll and employee benefits;
(ii) 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; or
(iii) Work-related activities that do not require any regular interaction within six feet of another person.

F–To engage in outdoor activity. A person may leave his or her place of residence to participate in outdoor activity that involves fewer than 10 people so long as the person maintains a consistent six-foot distance from other persons.

G–To seek shelter. A person may leave his or her place of residence to seek shelter if required by his or her employment by an “essential service of business” or if his or her residence is unsafe or at imminent risk of becoming unsafe. A person may also leave his or her place of residence to seek help from providers of basic necessities to economically disadvantaged people, such as food pantries.

H–To travel as required by law. A person may leave his or her place of residence to travel as required by law enforcement or court order, including the transportation of children required by a custody agreement.

I–To see family members. A person may leave his or her place of residence to visit the residence of other persons who are related to him or her.

Anyone leaving his or her home or place of residence as authorized in this order shall take reasonable steps to maintain six feet of separation from other persons.