Mobile has become the latest city to issue a curfew, along with a “stay at home” order, that will run through the end of the month during what is expected to be a spike in coronavirus cases throughout Alabama.

Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson, in a Twitter announcement Friday, said the curfew will take effect at 10 p.m. Saturday. Mobile joins Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, and Montgomery as among the largest cities in the state to issue a curfew. Tuscaloosa was the first in Alabama to do so, when Mayor Walt Maddox announced a 24-hour curfew for his city last week.

The decree essentially functions as a curfew by night, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., and a “stay at home” order from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

“It’s something we considered for several days,” said Stimpson. "We’ve just gotten enough information to do it in a proper fashion. The bottom line is we need you to stay home unless you’re an essential business or given an exclusive order."

Stimpson, during a Friday news conference, said he will work with the Mobile City Council to craft an ordinance that will detail the appropriate fine for violators.

There are a host of curfew exemptions for essential workers: Public safety workers (police, fire and emergency responders), public health workers (hospital and health care facilities and assisted living facilities, among others), utility workers (telecommunications and other workers), government contractors hired to maintain or fix infrastructure, people seeking emergency treatment, credentialed members of the media, homeless people and those who travel through the city.

The full order, with all exemptions and other details, can be viewed on the city’s website.

From 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. there are additional exemptions. Those excluded from the “stay at home” rule include:

Employees engaged in crisis intervention, sanitation services, and delivery services, including deliveries of food, merchandise and mail.

Persons employed by the federal, state, county, or city government or their agencies working within the course and scope of their public service employment who report to work at the direction of their employers, and persons engaging with those governments or agencies, but only to the extent authorized by the agency or department.

Persons complying with the lawful order, of a court, police officer, or other governmental authority.

Gatherings of less than 10 persons or work related gatherings that can maintain a consistent six-foot distance between persons.

Employees of specific “essential businesses:” Health care providers, including home health services; construction, manufacturing, and related companies that build or maintain homes, businesses, public works projects, utilities, and similar structures or projects; the WAVE transit system’s Mobility Assistance Program; grocery stores, farmer’s markets, food banks and convenience stores; restaurants and other providers of take-out or delivery of food and drink; shelter facilities and providers of necessities for disadvantaged or vulnerable individuals; pharmacies, health care supply stores and other similar businesses; gas stations and auto repair facilities; banks; garbage collection services; hardware stores, plumbers, electricians and other service providers necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation and essential operation of residences, essential businesses, and other structures as necessary; educational institutions, for the purposes of facilitating distance learning; laundromats, dry cleaners and laundry service providers; businesses that ship or deliver groceries, food and goods directly to residences; child care facilities providing services that enable essential employees to go to work; and providers of essential business services, including but not limited to security, payroll, professional organizations and services, including those providing dental, medical and surgical procedures permitted under paragraph 7 or the Order of the State Health Officer Suspending Certain Public Gatherings Due to Risk of Infection by COVID-19, as amended March 27, 2020, and business gatherings that can maintain a consistent six-foot distance between persons and similar activities.

Persons engaged in specific “essential activities:” Getting medicine or services from a doctor or veterinarian; getting necessary services or supplies for themselves or their family or household members, such as groceries and supplies necessary for sheltering in place, including purchasing food or drink for take-out or delivery provided social distancing protocols are maintained by the restaurant or other provider; engaging in outdoor activity, such as walking, hiking or running provided social distancing protocols are maintained; caring for a family member, person or pet in another household; tasks necessary to care for elderly, minors, dependents, people with disabilities or other vulnerable persons.

An additional exemption covers businesses that provide goods or services to necessary to the national defense, air transport, or public health and safety.

The curfew and stay at home order run through April 30, subject to further review if “emergency conditions” end sooner or last longer than expected.