ORDER OF THE JEFFERSON COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER SUSPENDING CERTAIN PUBLIC GATHERINGS AND CLOSING NONESSENTIAL BUSINESSES AND SERVICES DUE TO RISK OF INFECTION BY COVID-19

 

For Immediate Release | For More Information, Call Wanda Heard at 205.930.1483   –  ORDER OF THE JEFFERSON COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER SUSPENDING CERTAIN PUBLIC GATHERINGS AND CLOSING NONESSENTIAL BUSINESSES AND SERVICES DUE TO RISK OF INFECTION BY COVID-19

 

WHEREAS, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been detected in Alabama; and

WHEREAS, community transmission of the infectious agent COVID-19 in Jefferson County poses significant risk of substantial harm to a large number of people; and

WHEREAS, the State Board of Health has designated COVID-19 to be a disease of epidemic potential, a threat to the health and welfare of the public, or otherwise of public health importance; and

WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, on recommendation of the State Health Officer, Kay Ivey, Governor of the State of Alabama, declared a state public health emergency exists in the State of Alabama; and

WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020, the Jefferson County Health Officer, in response to a rapidly growing number of cases of COVID-19 being detected in Jefferson County, issued an order suspending certain public gatherings in that county; and

WHEREAS, on March 17, 2020, the State Health Officer issued a similar order for counties surrounding Jefferson, including Blount, Saint Clair, Shelby, Tuscaloosa, and Walker Counties, and

WHEREAS, on March 19, 2020, the State Health Officer entered an order providing that the Jefferson and Mobile County Health Officers are authorized, after consultation with the State Health Officer, to implement more stringent measures as local circumstances require; and

WHEREAS, further social distancing measures are necessary to be implemented to further prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Jefferson County; and

WHEREAS, Ala. Code § 22-3-5(2) authorizes the County Health Officer to “institute immediate measures to prevent the spread of such disease.”

NOW, THEREFORE, THESE PREMISES CONSIDERED, it is ordered by the County Health Officer:

 

 

1. Effective March 20, 2020, at 5:00 M., all nonessential businesses and services shall be closed. Attached to this Order is a list of all such nonessential business and services.

 

2. Effective immediately, all gatherings of 10 persons or more, or gatherings of any size that cannot maintain a consistent six-foot distance between persons, are prohibited until further This Order shall apply to all gatherings, events, or activities that bring 10 or more persons in a single room or single space at the same time.

 

3. All Senior Citizen Center gatherings shall remain Senior Citizen Centers and their partners are urged to assure that their clients continue to receive needed meals via curbside pick-up or delivery.

 

4. Effective immediately, all the following shall remain closed until April 6, 2020:
   1. All schools.
   2. Preschools and childcare centers with 12 or more
      1. This shall not apply to employer-operated childcare centers for the exclusive benefit of essential employees premises of 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), and End Stage Renal Disease Treatment Clinics, Pharmacies, Grocers and Financial Institutions
      2. This shall also not apply to licensed childcare centers that contract to provide services exclusively to the above-named employers, or that provide services exclusively to children of essential employees of the above-named employers, provided those childcare centers are able to maintain a consistent six-foot distance between children.

 

Prior to April 6, 2020, a determination shall be made about whether to extend the above closures.

 

5. Facilities for care of minor children of essential employees of employers in 4 above may be opened, provided:
   1. Operators of these facilities conduct appropriate screening and supervision of their workers to ensure the health and safety of the children under their
   2. Operators of these facilities follow a plan, approved by the Jefferson County Department of Health, for social distancing and other measures to prevent spread of disease.

 

 

6. 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 end-of-life.

 

7. Effective immediately, all elective dental and medical procedures shall be delayed until April 6, Prior to April 6, 2020, a determination shall be made about whether to extend this provision.

 

8. Effective immediately, any restaurant, bar, brewery, or similar establishment shall not permit on-premises consumption of food or drink until April 6, 2020.
   1. Such establishments may continue to offer food for take-out or delivery provided the social distancing protocols including maintaining a consistent six-foot distance between persons are followed, and provided measures are taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on containers of food and other items transferred between food servers and
   2. Such establishments are strongly encouraged to offer online ordering and curbside pick-up of
9. Hospital food service areas are excluded from this order provided they have their own social distancing plan.

Prior to April 6, 2020, a determination shall be made about whether to extend this provision.

9. If the organizer or sponsor of an otherwise suspended event desires, they may submit a request for an exemption from this order, at the discretion of the County Health Officer. While the County Health Officer is under no obligation to grant such an exemption, it shall be fairly considered based on the following criteria:

 

1. Effective measures have been taken to identify those attending the event that may potentially be affected with COVID-19, including but not limited to personal testing for the disease or submission of current medical clearances to the
2. Effective measures have been taken to prevent the spread of infection even by those that are infected while not symptomatic, including the provision of anti-infection measures such as proper facemasks, personal sanitation measures, and other measures that may be considered
3. Requests for an exemption must be submitted AT LEAST two weeks in advance of any scheduled event.

 

This Order supersedes all orders previously issued by the County Health Officer and shall remain in full force and effect for the duration of the current emergency conditions.

Done on this 19th day of March 2020.

 

Mark E. Wilson, M.D. County Health Officer

 

Non-Essential Services 3/19/2020

• Entertainment, including night clubs, bowling alleys, arcades, racetracks, indoor children’s play places, pool halls, adult gaming and entertainment venues
• Recreation facilities, including gyms and fitness centers, swimming pools and spas, excluding licensed physical therapy services 
• Nail salons and spas
• Casinos
• Concert venues and auditoriums Theaters
• Tourist attractions (including museums, planetariums, parades) Body art facilities and tattoo services
• Tanning salons Massage parlors
• Waxing salons/threading salons Museums and Galleries
• Performing Arts centers/events/rehearsals Social clubs
• Fraternity and Sorority meetings and events Proms, Formals and other similar events

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About JCDH

The Jefferson County Department of Health (JCDH) was established in 1917. JCDH serves as the primary resource for public health issues in Jefferson County. JCDH has four health centers strategically located throughout the county. JCDH is responsible for providing health care, preventing the spread of diseases, and protecting against

outbreaks. The Department of Health provides outpatient health care for Jefferson County’s underinsured and uninsured residents. JCDH health centers provide adult and child dental health, family planning, immunizations, maternity care, nutrition (WIC), case management, and Medicaid. JCDH Disease Control Specialty Clinics include: Tuberculosis, Sexually Transmitted Disease, International Travel and Tot Shot Clinics. Vital Records can obtained for birth, death or marriage events that occurred in the state of

Alabama. Environmental Health Services is responsible for Air and Radiation, Food and Lodging, Community Assessment and Community Environmental Protection. For additional information please visit www.jcdh.org

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT THE JEFFERSON COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER – https://www.jccal.org/Default.asp?ID=2058&pg=JeffCo+Communications+Center