Alabama Reopening Checklists

Amending the “Safer at Home” initiative allows citizens, employers, and workers to have more mobility while still implementing safety guidelines against COVID-19. Listed below are some of the new guidelines from Altogether Alabama effective May 22 to July 3, 2020:

• Citizens are allowed to leave their homes to purchase essentials but are encouraged to stay in as much as possible.
• Businesses may reopen under prescribed sanitation and social distancing guidelines
• Gatherings no longer have a 10 person limit, but persons must maintain 6 feet of social distancing if they are not from the same household.
• Food establishments such as restaurants and bars can open with limited tables. 6 feet of social distancing between tables and sanitation rules and guidelines apply.
• Entertainment venues such as bowling alleys, billiard halls, and casinos can reopen subject to social distancing and sanitation guidelines.

Alabama Reopening: General Safety Guidelines

While social and economic restrictions may change depending on the government’s decision, the threat of COVID-19 infection remains constant.The state of Alabama recommends the following general safety guidelines to minimize the chances of transmission within the community:

1. Wash hands with soap and clean water for at least 20 seconds
   With the anticipated COVID-19 vaccine possibly still a year away, diligent handwashing with soap and water is currently the best defense against coronavirus infections.
2. Frequently disinfect high-touch surfaces and items
   Touching a contaminated surface or item, and then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth can cause infections. Frequent disinfection of high-touch surfaces and items, paired with diligent handwashing can drastically lower your chances of getting infected.
3. Practice social distancing of at least 6 feet at all times
   COVID-19 can travel via air droplets when a person sneezes or coughs. Social distancing minimizes the chances of transmission since people become less likely to come in contact with contaminated air droplets.
4. Wear a face mask when out in public
   Some COVID-19 carriers are asymptomatic. This means they don’t show the common symptoms of coronavirus infection, but they can still infect others. Wearing a face mask helps prevent unknowing carriers from spreading the disease by acting as a filter whenever they cough or sneeze.
5. Avoid gathering in large groups
   A crowded room or area makes social distancing difficulty if not impossible. Citizens and workers should avoid gathering in large groups in order to minimize the chances of COVID-19 transmissions.

Alabama Reopening Guidance

The Alabama Public Health website released Guidelines for Safeguarding All Businesses; providing directives and making employer and employee responsibilities clear in making the workplace as safe as possible against the threat of infection.

Supplementing the above-mentioned general guidelines, the Guidelines for Restaurants and Bars provides safety guidelines specific to food establishments. Recommendations such as considering a “reservations-only” policy and call-ahead seating, as well as staff training to ensure the regular cleaning and disinfection of high-touch items and surfaces can be found here.

The Guidelines for Places of Worship provide safety directives to employees, volunteers, and attendees. It encourages employees and volunteers to work from home as much as possible, provides advice on personnel screening, and outlines health protocols for serving attendees especially those who are 65 years old.

The Guidelines for Close Contact Personal Service Businesses were developed by industry infection control experts and is based on CDC guidelines. It outlines safety guidelines covering hand hygiene, PPEs, social distancing, and disinfection.

Finally, the Guidelines for Athletic Facilities supplements standard safety guidelines for businesses with industry-specific safety protocols. It outlines screening recommendations for customers upon entry, posting signs to remind customers to practice social distancing, and encourages regular disinfection of gym and athletic equipment to decrease the chances of transmission.

Reopening Alabama with the Help of a Mobile App

With 25,000 confirmed cases as of June 2020, it is crucial for the citizens of Alabama, especially employers and workers, to practice the recommended safety guidelines for their respective industries. By doing so, they can keep the economy afloat while minimizing the threat of COVID-19 infections. With the help of iAuditor by SafetyCulture, businesses from different industries can perform compliance checks on-the-go, easily collaborate to ensure that recommended safety practices are followed consistently, and automatically save their inspection data in one, easy-to-use platform for hassle-free documentation.

To help Alabama reopen, we have compiled a list of ready-to-use digital checklists so Alabaman business owners can ensure their compliance with government-mandated COVID-19 safety protocols during operations.

Disclaimer: Please note that these checklists are hypothetical examples and provide basic information only. They are not intended to take the place of medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should also seek professional advice to determine if the use of such checklists are permissible in your workplace or jurisdiction.