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Task force submits recommendations on restarting Alabama’s economy

The Alabama Small Business Commission Emergency Task Force and the Subcommittee to Reopen the Economy has released its report, “Reopening Alabama Responsibly.”

The commission is led by Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth. The subcommittee, comprised of business leaders and a bipartisan group of Alabama legislators, is chaired by State Representative Danny Garrett.

The 162-page report includes a section on “General Guidelines to Protect Employees and Customers,” along with specific recommendations related to retail outlets, restaurants, ‘close contact’ services (such as barber shops, hair salons, nail salons, tanning salons, waxing, tattoo & body art, massage therapy), childcare services, medical & health services (including dental, optometry and physical therapy), entertainment venues, exercise facilities, beaches, youth athletics activities, pharmacies, real estate, manufacturing & industry, and agriculture.

Click here to read the report.

Under the current statewide health order, only “essential businesses” are open to the public. Restaurants are currently only allowed to offer delivery, takeout or curbside service.

The task force recommends that certain sectors and services resume operations immediately, others by May 1. The report recommends youth sports activities resume on May 11.

Each of the recommendations is paired with specific health and safety precautions, tailored to each category of business/activity.

The task force is just one of several groups Gov. Ivey tasked with helping form a plan to restart the state’s economy.

Gov. Ivey indicated she would not be taking immediate action; she thanked the task force for its work and said she had forwarded the report to the Executive Committee of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Task Force.

Consistent with what we’ve been saying all along, the president made it clear that the return to ‘normal’ won’t be a quick or simple process. We will need to see declining cases – and stronger testing – over at least 14-days – to make certain we don’t see a return in the spike up of the infection.

In addition to the report from the Small Business Commission, I also look forward receiving reports from our seven members of Congress by the middle of next week. We’re also getting feedback from the mayors of our 10 largest cities – as well as a lot of other good suggestions – and our Executive Committee is already looking into many different ideas and plans.

No good idea will be tossed aside, but even as we look at every way we can to reopen the economy, we’re going to need to continue to maintain social distancing and other health measures to ensure the virus doesn’t flare up again.

Gov. Ivey statement, Saturday, April 18

The current statewide stay-at-home order is in effect until 5 p.m. Thursday, April 30.

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