Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
Jeff Co Dept of Health
Jefferson County Department of Health on 6th Avenue South in downtown Birmingham on Friday, March 20, 2020. Photo by Erin Nelson
The Jefferson County Department of Health on Thursday issued a new public health order, closing all “non-essential businesses and services” and prohibiting gatherings of 10 or more people in order to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.
The new order takes effect Friday and will continue until at least April 6.
All schools and child care providers with 12 or more children also must remain closed until at least April 6, but this deadline could be extended in the future, Jefferson County Health Officer Dr. Mark Wilson said.
The COVID-19 disease is causing an increased number of deaths around the world, and Wilson pleaded with the community to cooperate with this order.
“We know that COVID-19 is deadly to a large portion of the population. Each day and each action either results in lives lost or lives saved,” Wilson said. “Today, I’m taking additional steps to protect and defend the lives of every person in Jefferson County. These public health orders are needed to save lives by limiting the spread of the virus.”
Wilson encouraged people to think about all the people with whom they have contact, including their parents, grandparents and children.
“Our enemy is one that we cannot see with our naked eyes, but we can see the devastation that this virus has left in its wake around the world,” he said. “Now is the time to do our part, to work together and to overcome this threat.”
Wilson said his heart hurts for the people of Jefferson County.
“I understand that what I’m asking for is one of the greatest sacrifices we’ve ever had to make as a community,” he said. “I understand that these orders impact people’s lives in untold ways, and I wholeheartedly believe that some suffering now will prevent untold pain and suffering in the months to come if we do not take these extraordinary steps.”
Jefferson County Commission President Jimmie Stephens said the county is at war. “Perhaps the greatest foe that we have faced since World War II is amongst us and in our community,” Stephens said. “It’s going to take a concerted effort of everyone working together to defeat this foe. It’s going to require a commitment by you to heed these words of Dr. Wilson and to follow them to make sure this tremendous calamity does not spread.”
Stephens quoted former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who said, “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat. Victory at all costs. Victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be, for without victory, there is no survival.”
Photo courtesy of Medical West Hospital, UAB Health System
UAB MedWest Nurses
The closure of non-essential businesses and services includes:
- Entertainment facilities (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
- Tourist attractions
- Body art facilities and tattoo services
- Tanning salons
- Waxing salons/threading salons
- Museums and galleries
- Performing art centers and event rehearsals
- Social clubs
- Fraternity and sorority meetings and events
- Proms, formals and social events
The health department also is:
- Ordering schools and preschool and child care centers with 12 or more children to close or remain closed until at least April 6, with the exception of child care centers that exclusively serve children of essential personnel such as first responders, law enforcement and employees of hospitals, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, end-stage renal disease treatment clinics, pharmacies, groceries and financial institutions.
- Ordering senior citizen centers to remain closed, except that they are urged to assure that their clients continue to receive needed meals via curbside pickup or delivery
- Ordering hospitals, nursing homes and long-term care facilities to prohibit all visitors and non-essential health care personnel, except in the case of compassionate care situations such as end of life
- Ordering that all elective medical and dental procedures cease until at least April 6
- Ordering all restaurants, bars and breweries to continue the prohibition of on-premise consumption of food and drinks until at least April 6. Takeout and delivery service will still be allowed, provided that such establishments follow social distancing protocols to keep people at least 6 feet apart and take measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 disease on food containers and other items transferred between food servers and customers. Restaurants should encourage patrons to do online ordering and curbside pickup. Hospital food services areas are exempt if they have proper social distancing plans.
Event organizers can ask the county health officer for an exemption from the prohibition against gatherings at least two weeks in advance of an event. The health officer can deny the request but will consider requests if the event organizer shows they will take effective measures to identify if people have been affected by COVID-19 and will use effective measures to prevent the spread of the disease, such as proper facemasks and personal sanitation procedures.
Also, facilities taking care of the children of essential personnel must conduct appropriate screening and supervision of workers and use social distancing and other measures to prevent the spread of the disease.
Wilson also said county health officials are concerned about having enough available equipment to take care of sick patients in the future. The federal government is trying to help, but county health officials are asking health care providers who may have additional protective equipment in storage to share.
Wilson said he knows there is a lot of uncertainty about the duration of these orders.
“I think we’re definitely in for a long, rough ride — several weeks, but none of us can predict exactly how long it will last,” Wilson said. “A lot of this is up to us and how well we do this.”