Alabama’s two most populous counties announced Thursday that they are suspending all jury trials for at least two weeks in an attempt to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Jefferson County courts will not be holding jury trials in the Birmingham Division from March 30 through April 13 and the Bessemer Division from Monday until April 13 while Mobile County courts is suspending such trials until the end of April. Lagniappe reported the Mobile County suspension announcement.

Starting Monday, the Jefferson County court system said it would ban anyone from entering a county courtroom who has been to China, Japan, South Korea, Italy and Iran within the past 14 days. Those countries have been the hardest hit with the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.

Other categories of people who will be barred from entering a Jefferson County courtroom are:

People with close contact to people who have been to those five countries within the last two weeks

People who have been asked to self-quarantine by a doctor, hospital or health agency

People diagnosed or have been in contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19

Jurors affected by the suspensions in the Birmingham Division were asked to contact court administration at 205-325-5063 or 205-325-5064. Birmingham Division grand jurors were asked to call the court clerk at 205-325-5355.

Jurors or grand jurors in the Bessemer Division were asked to contact the Bessemer deputy court clerk at 205-497-8510.