Alabamians will know early next week if the stay-at-home order will remain in place after the end of the month.

Ivey spokeswoman Gina Maiola told the Times Daily Ivey is working with State Health Officer Scott Harris to “firm up a timetable to reopen” businesses that have been closed since early April as part of the state’s efforts to fight the spread of coronavirus.

“We will probably hear an announcement from them early next week as to how Alabama will gradually phase in business,” Maiola said.

"Governor Ivey is mindful and sensitive to the sacrifices the people of Alabama have made during this pandemic, and she is eager for businesses to safely reopen. She has been in continuous discussions with the White House and appreciates the helpful guidance that they have given to states as her and her fellow governors make these tough decisions,” she added.

State officials closed all “non-essential” businesses, including barber and beauty shops, gyms and some retailers, shortly before issuing a stay-at-home order. Ivey has been working with an advisory group to draft a re-opening timeline even as governors in Tennessee and Georgia move ahead with reopening their states.

Ivey’s alternatives include letting the orders expire and announcing a phased-reopening or leaving the orders in place for a longer period of time.

Alabama’s public schools have already moved to distance learning for the remainder of the year but lifting the orders would allow businesses to reopen – at least partially – and send people back to work.

Earlier this week, Ivey indicated the reopening plans may vary from place to place.

“There’s no one size fits all for everyone at the same time,” she said. “Nobody wants to get to work more than I do. I’m all about opening up to get back to work. At the same time, we’ve got to do it as soon as we can as smart as we can. We don’t want to do it too early to invite the virus back in our communities.”