State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris has updated the statewide emergency public health order he issued Thursday to say the prohibition on gatherings of 25 or more people does not apply to workplaces.

“Effective today, all non-work related gatherings of 25 persons or more, or non-work related gatherings of any size that cannot maintain a consistent six-foot distance between persons, are prohibited,” the new order says. “Employers shall take all reasonable steps to meet these standards for employees and customers.”

Harris issued the order Thursday in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Governor Kay Ivey said in a press release today that Thursday’s order was not intended to apply to work-related gatherings.

“Yesterday’s health order was issued to be as comprehensive as possible to combat the spread of the virus and to ensure the state was doing everything within its authority to protect the people of Alabama," Ivey said. “In order to keep Alabama going, we must keep Alabama businesses going to the best of our abilities.

“I fully support the restrictions of social or recreational gatherings of 25 people or less and strongly encourage individuals to maintain a six-foot distance. However, this order was intended to apply to non-work-related gatherings.”

Today’s revised order also expands the availability of child day care in the state as long as certain guidelines are followed, the governor’s office said.

The revised order says day care facilities can stay open as long as 12 or more children are not allowed in a room or other enclosed or separated space at the same time. It says facilities are encouraged to use enhanced sanitation and social-distancing practices consistent with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Alabama Department of Public Health.

The order does not change the state’s minimum day care standards except for the new prohibition on 12 or more children in a room.

Thursday’s order was more restrictive on child care, closing all centers except those that serve specific categories of employees, such as first responders, law enforcement, and hospital workers.

The revised order clarifies language in the original order on senior citizen centers and schools, the governor’s office said.

Regular programs at senior citizen centers are stopped, but centers and their partners are urged to assure that their clients continue to receive needed meals via curbside pickup or delivery, the Public Health department said.

The order prohibits in-person instruction and classes at all schools and colleges. Local boards of education may provide daytime special activities programs for some children ages 6 through 12. These programs may be held for children of essential employees of these employers: State and local governments, first responders (including EMS and fire services), law enforcement, hospitals, nursing home/long term care facilities (including assisted living and specialty care assisted living facilities), end-stage renal disease treatment centers, pharmacies and grocery stores.

Read the full news release at the Alabama Department of Public Health, including rules for hair, nail, massage, and tattoo parlors; funerals, weddings, and reunions; and caregivers for elderly and the disabled.

State Health Officer Harris stressed the importance of the restrictions.

“Alabamians must cooperate, understand their actions affect other people, and take seriously the need to protect health and safety, because COVID-19 is a deadly virus," Harris said in a press release.

Edited at 3:35 p.m. to change sentence about child day care. Edited at 4:02 p.m. to add more about the child care center restrictions. Edited at 4:11 p.m. to add quote from Dr. Harris.