A doctor from the Alabama Department of Public Health said Friday that while the state is inching toward restoring public activity, the threshold for lifting precautions has not yet been met.

Dr. Karen Landers, ADPH Northern District medical officer, in remarks at a daily briefing in Huntsville, did not specifically address the recommendations issued earlier in the day by lawmakers on Gov. Kay Ivey’s state task force on reopening the economy.

But her comments urged maintaining the current course spelled out by the shelter-at-home order issued by state Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris.

While the task force recommends restaurants and many other businesses opening immediately, Landers had a different perspective.

“It is not time for us to say, ‘OK, we’ve had an impact, let’s stop what we’re doing,’” Landers said. “But rather to continue all the processes that are in place. People need to continue to stay at home. Only go out for essential work and essential supplies.”

She also encouraged Alabamians to wear masks in public.

"When we have to go out, we need to maintain our six-feet of distance between people. Voluntarily, people need to be wearing their cloth mask when they go out."

Landers said she is frequently asked about what is needed to safely move beyond the shelter-at-home order. She outlined three requirements being looked at by the public health office:

A steady decline in positive COVID-19 tests.

More available COVID-19 testing.

A drop in cases so that the burden is eased on hospitals.

"The virus is not magically going to go away on April 30," said Landers, referring to the date the shelter-at-home order expires.

Landers also said, "We are starting to see some decrease, but we are not seeing the level we need to see yet."

Now-familiar protocols, such as increased hand washing, wearing masks and keeping frequently touched surfaces clean, will remain in place even as Alabama eventually meets the health department’s criteria to relax the shelter-at-home order, Landers said.

"As this goes along, we will probably have increased information about people just wearing masks when they are out in public to reduce the spread of this virus," she said.

“We cannot relax our standards on respiratory hygiene. As far as good handwashing, good hand sanitation, keeping surfaces clean – these are all measures that appear to have had an impact. That’s my prescription as a doctor," she said. "These are the things I am prescribing to reduce spread of this virus.”

On Thursday, Huntsville Hospital CEO David Spillers said he wanted the state to require people to wear a mask in public.

“There has been a lot of conversation about opening up the economy and I think when we see that, I certainly hope that one of the recommendations that comes from the state when we open back up is a requirement to mask,” said Spillers, who oversees medical centers within the Huntsville Hospital System throughout north Alabama. “I think everybody in a store buying a product should be masked.”

Here are some related stories on Friday’s recommendations:

Alabama doctors offices open up in May, plan recommends

Masks and temperature checks? Rules vary by business in Alabama’s plan to reopen

When will beaches reopen?

‘Is it safe?’ Uncertainty looms despite proposal to reopen Alabama salons, tattoo shops

Could youth sports really resume in Alabama on May 11?

Small businesses optimistic with recommendations to re-open; caution urged