Alabama will no longer require masks after April 9, but a new “Safer Apart” order in effect until 5 p.m. May 5 urges the public to continue wearing masks and social distancing in public due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Gov. Kay Ivey on Wednesday announced the new order that lifts most of the state-mandated rules on masks, social distancing and occupancy rates at restaurants and businesses. Hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living facilities are still limited to a maximum of two visitors per patient.

The new order still requires anyone testing positive for COVID-19 to quarantine at home.

“We are finally rounding the corner,” Ivey said. “While we haven’t whipped this deadly disease just yet, it appears that, thank the good Lord, we are in the home stretch. So please, please continue to practice good common sense and we will see an end to COVID-19 soon.”

Wearing masks and following pandemic protection guidelines now shifts to personal responsibility for the most part, Ivey said. She will continue to wear a mask when around others.

Ivey said restaurants, retail and other businesses open to the public can still require masks and social distancing guidelines. Houses of worship may do the same. The Governor’s Office has produced signs that businesses can print and hang at their entrances. You can download them here (Mask Preferred, Mask Required for Service, Please Wear A Mask, Thank You for Wearing A Mask, Thank You Gradient).

Cities can also extend the mask order within their city limits after the state order expires. Birmingham has its own order that runs through May 24 and Montgomery will extend the mask order for 30 days after the state order expires April 9.

But the COVID-19 outlook in the state no longer makes a statewide order necessary, Ivey said, citing the seven-day average for new cases on Monday was down 92% from the high on Jan. 10 and at the lowest point since spring 2020. She said the average number of hospitalizations is down 89% since the height on Jan. 11.

“Y’all, this is definitely good news and we are definitely moving in the right direction,” Ivey said. “Again, I want to thank the people of Alabama for being so supportive and giving tremendous help to help us get where we are.”

State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris urged Alabamians to remain vigilant even as COVID-19 numbers continue to decrease. (Hal Yeager/Governor’s Office)

State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris said the past 13 months have presented a challenge that Alabamians have met, but at the cost of more than 10,650 deaths in the state.

“We’ve completely changed how we work and shop and worship and spend time with our family,” Harris said. “So many things are so different now than they have ever been before. And yet, people have really done their best to cooperate and try to take care of each other.”

Other than continuing to take personal responsibility by masking, social distancing and using good hygiene, Harris said the most important thing Alabamians can do to end the pandemic is get vaccinated.

He said the state received more vaccine doses this week than ever before and eligibility now includes everyone age 16 and older. The vaccine is free and there are numerous providers throughout the state. The Alabama National Guard is operating drive-thru vaccination sites in rural parts of the state to aid in the effort.

Ivey said almost 1.2 million of nearly 5 million eligible people in Alabama have received at least one vaccine since the shots became available four months ago.