Recommendations For Responsibly Reopening Alabama's Economy

Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth and State Representative Danny Garrett on Friday released the “Reopen Alabama" Phase 1 report, which is a series of recommendations requested by Gov. Kay Ivey for reopening the state’s economy in the coming weeks.

Recommendations were that some businesses reopen immediately and others on May 1st, using precautions. Full report is available HERE.

But he cautioned that these are recommendations... and it'll be up to the State Health Officer and Governor Kay Ivey as to how Alabama goes about the reopening process.

For example,the report recommends reopening restaurants immediately under certain conditions, such as limiting the number of people at one table to 6, and spacing tables 6 feet away from others who are dining.

Close contact services like barber shops and hair salons could reopen immediately, serving customers by appointment, with no walk ins or waiting areas, and using precautions such as face masks and distancing from other customers and stylists.

Medical practices, dentists, oral surgeons, orthodontists, physical therapy etc would have a target of May 1st to reopen, with precautions.

And as for the beaches, the report recommends a two-fold reopening, with limitations. Here's that those would be:

"The subcommittee recommends that our state͛s beaches reopen for recreational use on May 1, 2020. (Recreational uses will include: walking, running, swimming, fishing, or similar activities.) Congregating on the beach or the use of chairs, umbrellas, and/or tents will be prohibited. Signage notifying the general public of social distancing guidelines should be posted at all public and private beach accesses.

Subject to continued compliance with social distancing guidelines, beach regulations may be relaxed beginningMay 15, 2020. The subcommittee recommends that normal activities should resume as long as beachgoers keep a distance of at least 6 feet between groups. The subcommittee also suggests that no groups larger than 10 congregate on the beach. Those groups must live together or be staying in the same dwelling.

Orange Beach Police Department, Gulf Shores Police Department, and the Baldwin County Sherriff͛s Department have agreed to deploy additional law enforcement officers and life guards to enforce any social distancing guidelines. "