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Ivey announced today that order will end April 9

Gov. Kay Ivey announced today the extension of the safer at home order, which includes a statewide mask requirement until April 9, 2021, at 5 p.m.

“After April 9, I will not keep the mask order in effect,” Ivey said during a press conference at the state capitol.

According to Ivey’s office, individuals will be required to wear a mask or other facial covering when in public and in close contact with other people.

The extended safer at home order includes the following:

What’s new

• Hospitals and nursing homes – subject to reasonable restrictions, patients and residents will be allowed visits from as many as two caregivers, up from one, or as many as two visitors, up from one, at a time;

• Senior citizen centers – programs other than congregate meals may resume, but only outdoors and subject to guidelines by the Alabama Department of Senior Services. Meals still available by curbside pick up or delivery;

• Restaurants, bars and breweries – Still may open, but with no limit on party size at tables. Still required are patritions or 6 feet between tables and additional sanitation rules and guidelines; and,

• Summer camp – still may open subject to social-distancing and sanitation rules and guidelines. The social-distancing requirement was changed to mirror the one used for schools.

What’s staying the same:

Masks – Masks required in public when interacting within 6 feet with people of another household, subject to certain exceptions

Entertainment venues, such as arcades, theaters and bowling alleys – May open subject to social distancing and sanitation rules and guidelines

Athletic activities – Allowed subject to social distancing and sanitation rules and guidelines

Educational institutions – May open subject to social distancing and sanitation rules and guidelines

Child day care facilities – May open subject to social distancing and sanitation rules and guidelines

Individuals – Encouraged to stay home and follow good sanitation practices

Employers – Businesses may open subject to sanitation and social distancing guidelines

Retail stores – May open subject to social distancing and sanitation rules and guidelines

Medical procedures – Allowed unless prohibited in the future by the State Health Officer to preserve resources necessary to diagnose and treat COVID-19; providers must follow COVID-19-related rules and guidance from state regulatory boards or public health authorities

NON-WORK GATHERINGS – Still required to maintain 6 feet of distance between persons not from same household

RESTAURANTS, BARS AND BREWERIES – May open with limited table seating, 6 feet between tables and subject to additional sanitation rules and guidelines

ATHLETIC FACILITIES (SUCH AS FITNESS CENTERS AND COMMERCIAL GYMS) – Athletic facilities may open subject to social-distancing and sanitation rules and guidelines

CLOSE-CONTACT SERVICE PROVIDERS – Close-contact service providers (such as barber shops, hair salons, nail salons, tattoo services) may open subject to social-distancing and sanitation rules and guidelines

BEACHES – Open with no limit on gatherings. Must maintain 6 feet of separation.