From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
ST. CLAIR COUNTY — The St. Clair County Commission declared a State of Local Emergency on Monday in response to the growing threat of the coronavirus.
St. Clair County Commission Chair Paul Manning signed the authorization as the coronavirus could impact the health, safety and economy of the people of the county.
The declaration allows the county to waive procedures and formalities typically needed. This includes:
- Performance of public work and taking whatever prudent action is necessary to ensure health, safety and welfare of the community.
- Entering into contracts.
- Incurring obligations.
- Employment of temporary workers.
- Utilization of volunteer workings.
- Rental equipment.
- Acquisition and distribution, with or without compensation, of supplies, materials and facilities.
- Appropriation of expenditure of public funds.
This precedes Jefferson County banning gatherings of 25 or more people. In addition, nursing homes will now ban visitors, restaurants, bars and brewers will be pickup or delivery only for one week. Starting Thursday, all private schools will be closed until April 6.
As of Monday afternoon, there were 29 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Alabama. Seventeen of those confirmed cases were in Jefferson County. There are still no deaths associated with the outbreak in the state.
Earlier in the day, the Alabama Department of Public Health urged people to avoid gatherings of more than 50 people, unless they can maintain a 6-foot distance between others, to limit spread of the coronavirus outbreak.
The advice follows guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, State Health Officer Scott Harris said.
Harris said restaurants are urged to keep a 6-foot (2-meter) distance between tables and limit admittance to 50% of capacity. Harris said people attending weddings and funerals should also try to maintain 6-foot (2-meter) distance. He said workplaces may not be able to maintain the distances but should try whenever possible.
Senior citizens, and those with health problems, should be more careful, Harris said. Senior adults or those with chronic health problems should avoid gatherings, outside of close family, of 10 or more people, and should avoid travel by air, train or bus, the state health department said.
“I think if we all cooperate, if we all manage to do this then we will have a little bit of time where we are inconvenienced and uncomfortable but I know we will come out OK on the other side,” Harris said.
For most people, coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.
The vast majority of people recover from the new virus. People with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover, according to the World Health Organization.