Bessemer police officers spent part of Sunday morning patrolling the churches in the west Jefferson County city to make sure no large-scale gatherings were taking place.

After 5 p.m. today, all Jefferson County non-essential retail stores are mandated to shut down to try and slow the spread of COVID-19 in the most sweeping of any such regulation in any Alabama county. As of Monday morning, Jefferson County accounted for 79 of Alabama’s 167 coronavirus cases.

Law enforcement officers will begin to patrol shops and businesses in the state’s most populated county, first to ensure compliance and secondly to make sure criminals aren’t taking advantage of an already-stressful situation.

“I’m having the cars on each beat to make sure that everyone is aware the law does apply to them,’’ said Bessemer Police Chief Mike Roper. “We are not trying to arrest anyone. It’s very important that they do it. And it needs to be volunteer. It’s for their safety and the public’s safety.”

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall on Saturday sent a memo to all law enforcement in Alabama informing them of how they can legally enforce the health order. Marshall said those who knowingly and willing violate the Alabama Department of Public Health’s orders during the coronavirus pandemic could face misdemeanor charges and fines of up to $500.

“While the unprecedented nature of this pandemic and the government’s evolving response seem to demand some restraint related to criminal enforcement of this order, if a violator has been made aware of the health order and the refusal to comply presents a threat to public health and safety, the penalties of Section 22-2-14 are available as an enforcement tool,” Marshall wrote in the memo.

Alabama law says “any person who knowingly violates or fails or refuses to obey or comply with any rule or regulation adopted and promulgated by the State Board of Health of this state shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.” The law also says if a person continues to violate or not comply with the order, they can be charged with an additional offense daily.

On Thursday, State Health Officer Scott Harris, issued this order:

Prohibited gatherings of 25 or more where people cannot stay 6-feet away from each other.

Closed all beaches, senior citizen centers, colleges and universities.

Childcare centers except those providing care for the children of essential workers

Prohibited visitation at hospitals and senior living centers.

Prohibited on-premise dining and consumption at all restaurants and breweries. Only take-out or curbside pickup is permitted.

Elective dental procedures postponed.

Jefferson County Health Officer Mark Wilson issued a stricter order and ordered all nonessential businesses closed, even expanding the list of mandated closures on Sunday night to include all hair salons, barber shops and retail stores.

“This is a matter of life and death,’’ Wilson said in a video statement announcing the expanded restrictions and saying his earlier announcements left confusion. “I’m aware that many people are asking questions about what is essential or not. This is not a time to look for loopholes.”

Jefferson County law enforcement leaders say they are aware of Marshall’s memo and plan to keep an eye on compliance.

“At this point, we are advising citizens and businesses of the various Health Department notices and violations because everything is too new and fluid. We are referring them to the updated information and asking them to comply,’’ said Birmingham Police Chief Patrick Smith. “Repeated violations may result in further action by the Health Department, referral of businesses for business license review to the Public Safety Committee or enforcement of the misdemeanor sections.”

“It is not our goal to over police the conditions, but we do want people to take this seriously - and I do believe many have - and voluntarily comply to keep everyone safe and reduce the transmission of the virus,’’ he said.

“I would encourage the community to adhere to the Health Department’s restrictions and guidelines to keep children and families safe, by keeping them home as much as possible to limit exposure,’’ Smith said. “If you have to call the police for any reason, alert the dispatcher, if you or someone in your home has been diagnosed with Covid-19 or showing symptoms, so that we are able to respond appropriately to limit any exposure.”

Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputy Chief David Agee said he is expecting 100 percent compliance.

“Our enforcement efforts haven’t changed – our objective is to catch criminals,’’ he said. “But if we get a complaint, we will respond to it. We will advise them they are in violation and give them a chance to comply. I think that’s the best way to handle it.”

In Mountain Brook, Police Chief Ted Cook said the Chamber of Commerce is making sure all affected businesses know about the order. “We’d much rather educate than have to issue violations,’’ he said. “Most of our businesses do everything they can to follow the law. I wouldn’t anticipate any violations.”

Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis said his department received complaints over the weekend about some businesses that remained open despite the restrictions. “We went by and talked to them and most didn’t know they were supposed to be closed,’’ he said.

Department leaders are meeting about the issue Monday. A challenge in Hoover, Derzis said, is that part of the city is in Jefferson County and part is in Shelby County, which is not under as many mandatory closures. “We’ll abide by whatever the Health Department puts out there and we’re hoping the businesses will adhere to whatever rules and regulations are issued.”

Homewood Sgt. John Carr said they, too, met today about the matter and how best to handle the situation, including issuing daily citations ranging from $25 to $500. "We will be enforcing it,'' he said.