Gov. Kay Ivey on Friday announced the closing of some businesses in the state through April 17 as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases continue to climb in the state of Alabama.

The order covers entertainment venues, athletic events, non-essential “close-contact” service establishments, and non-essential retail stores.

"We must be serious about eliminating the spread of this deadly virus," Ivey said. "This is real. This is very real ... we must protect the people of Alabama."

The order, which goes into effect on Saturday at 5 p.m., covers a wide variety of businesses from nightclubs and athletic venues to nail salons. Grocery stores are not affected, and state officials said gun stores are exempted.

'Stay at home':What Alabama's 'non-essential' business closures mean for you

Ivey's order also shrinks the number of people allowed at nonwork gatherings from 25 to 10. The governor said violations could mean a $500 fine, and said she was speaking to Attorney General Steve Marshall about other potential penalties.

"This is incredibly disappointing news to deliver, but this is a matter of life and death," Ivey said.

The decision reflects a turn for Gov. Ivey, who in comments earlier this week appeared more focused on getting people to return to work and less on additional health care measures. Ivey last week put limits on nonwork gatherings; banned in-person dining in bars and restaurants, closed state beaches and affirmed school closings. Ivey signaled Thursday the school closings would extend through the remainder of the school year.

Coronavirus:Which Alabama businesses must close to the public?

But the governor on Monday and Thursday rejected proposals for stay at home or shelter in place orders. Ivey said on Thursday “we are not Louisiana, we are not New York State, we are not California.”

The governor defended her decision to not issue a broader shelter-in-place order on Friday.

"Government can choke businesses," she said. "We do it every day with businesses and bureaucracy. If we kill businesses, we can’t print enough money in Washington DC to bring a dead business back to life."

Ivey's reluctance to issue a statewide order has brought criticism. The governor appeared to respond to the criticism at several points during her remarks. She listed efforts the state had already undertaken to control the spread of the virus and said they could not be accused of avoiding difficult decisions.

The order, however, seems to take the state closer to something like a stay-at-home directive. State Health Officer Scott Harris said Friday the difference was that it was "not coercive."

In full:Read Alabama's non-essential business closure order

"We're trying to emphasize the importance of people to stay home, and stay away from crowds," he said. "We want people to take this seriously, we want people to stay home whenever possible."

Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston, said in an interview Friday morning he met with Ivey on Thursday and that “she had no intention of locking down the state” or expanding current orders.

“She didn’t mention to me yesterday expanding that at all,” he said. “But something could have developed overnight and she’s responding to that.”

But health care experts say isolation is the best way to break the transmission, and even with limited testing the virus has spread through Alabama. The Alabama Department of Public Health reported three deaths through Friday morning – in Jackson, Limestone and Madison counties – and 540 confirmed cases as of 10:16 a.m.

Hospitals across the state have expressed concern about the capacity of the state’s health system to treat cases of the global pandemic if infections swell too quickly. Many doctors have urged Alabamians to stay home regardless of a governor’s order demanding it or not.

More:'Absolute unknown territory': Alabama hospitals brace for coronavirus onslaught lacking resources

Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth has expressed concerns about the state's preparedness in addressing a surge of patients from the outbreak. Ivey said she invited Ainsworth to be on her coronavirus task force because he expressed a "willingness to help."

"What is not helpful is raising challenges and criticisms and issues that we're already aware of while offering no solution, and showing no willingness to work with the task force and the team trying to fix it," she said.

A message seeking comment was sent to Ainsworth on Friday morning. In a memo earlier this week, Ainsworth called for "a comprehensive emergency action planthat addresses anticipated capacity, staffing, and PPE (personal protective equipment) needs" and said his office would be willing to assist.

The state's case numbers should continue to grow as testing continues to expand. People in 48 of Alabama’s 67 counties have tested positive for coronavirus. Most of the counties without confirmed tests are in the rural Black Belt and the Wiregrass, the southeast portion of the state on the border with the Florida Panhandle.

Birmingham has issued a stay-at-home order, and Tuscaloosa plans to impose a 24-hour curfew starting on Sunday. Both Ivey and Harris signaled Friday they would respect those local decisions to stand. Harris Friday said the statewide orders on coronavirus set a floor for responses.

"They are free to adopt more stringent orders if they like," he said.

The outbreak has also led to a surge of unemployment claims as businesses shutter amid the outbreak. Ivey signaled Friday that she would be open to any efforts to expand unemployment benefits to 26 weeks.

"I'm going to do everything in my power to help you and all the people of our state get through this difficult time," she said.

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Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Brian Lyman at 334-240-0185 or blyman@gannett.com.