State health officials issued an order Tuesday restricting gatherings and restaurant service in Tuscaloosa and the other counties that surround Jefferson County, where 17 cases of the coronavirus had been confirmed.

The Alabama Department of Public Health is prohibiting gatherings of 25 or more people, or where a six-foot distance cannot be maintained. Bars, restaurants and breweries cannot serve food or drink on-site for one week. Carry-out and delivery orders for restaurants are being encouraged.

The order applies to Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Blount, St. Clair and Shelby counties, but other counties have been advised to follow the same guidelines. Similar orders are expected for other areas soon, said Alabama State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris.

Effective at 5 p.m. Tuesday and until April 6, gatherings of more than 25 people are prohibited.

Effective Wednesday and until April 6, all senior citizen centers will be closed. At the close of school or business Wednesday, all private schools, pre-schools and child care centers with 12 or more children must close.

Exemptions include hospital child care centers.

Nursing home facilities cannot have visitors, effective immediately.

The restaurant restrictions begin at 5 p.m. today and will last a week.

Officials will review the situation and could move up or extend the April 6 date.

"We have not taken these decisions lightly," Harris said. "It is certainly possible that the situation may warrant that we implement this statewide."

He strongly encouraged people in the counties not included in the directive to adopt the practices.

"It is time for Alabamians to hunker down, to isolate themselves, to stay away from other people," he said. "It’s time to stay out of the public to the extent that you can."

Gov. Kay Ivey issued a statement ahead of the 10 a.m. press conference:

"These measures taken by the Alabama Department of Public Health are out of an abundance of caution in order to contain the area where the most cases of the COVID-19 are present.

"Alabamians living in Jefferson County and its surrounding counties are currently the most vulnerable to contracting the coronavirus. I ask that Alabamians who live in these counties adhere to these regulations and would urge the rest of our state to do so as well, in order to mitigate the impact of the virus.

"I am encouraged to see so many of our citizens voluntarily self-regulate by practicing social-distancing – choosing to be safe rather than sorry is always the smart move. We should not take precautionary measures for granted, but I encourage everyone to remember the old adage ‘this too shall pass.’ Adhering to smart protocol and practicing a little patience will pull us through this."