The Birmingham City Council approved an ordinance Tuesday afternoon preventing city residents from traveling or leaving their homes except to go to work, buy essential items and groceries, go to the doctor or exercise.

SHELTER-IN-PLACE ORDER: HERE’S WHAT IT MEANS

The order was unanimously adopted around 5:20 p.m. the urging of Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin. Besides the purposes outlined in the ordinance, Birmingham residents are to remain in their homes. The penalty for violating the ordinance is up to 30 days in jail.

The “shelter-in-place” ordinance goes into effect immediately and stands until April 3 at 12 a.m. According to the city municipal code, a violation of a city ordinance is punishable by up to 180 days in jail and/or up to a $500 fine.

“We have to do everything we can to prevent community spread. The ultimate goal is to save lives," the mayor told the council. “What we’re doing, it goes against human nature because we are by definition social creatures. But I am convinced ... if we make the tough hard decisions now and hunker down then the faster we can get back to our normal way of life.”

Councilor Hunter Williams said the order is “in the best interests of the city of Birmingham.”

“It’s a tough decision knowing this will curb the economic landscape within the city of Birmingham, but I think in the long run ... we will have an opportunity to flatten that curve.”

Councilor John Hilliard said the order is necessary and that he would lose sleep at night if the city stood idly by while the virus spreads. He said Birmingham’s economic health is dependent on its residents’ physical health.

“I love this city and I want it to thrive, but we need people to thrive with it," Hilliard said.

Said Councilor Chrystal Smitherman, “I would rather do the most I can to protect the public and have y’all be mad at us than you getting mad later for us not doing enough.”

A shelter-in-place order would quicken the time for Birmingham to return to normalcy, said Councilor Clinton Woods.

“The quicker we get through this crisis, the faster we get back to business,” he said. "We wait another week and [a shelter-in-place order] could be late.”

Woodfin said the rapid rise in cases, and hospitalizations at UAB, requires more stringent rules. The order will not prevent people from leaving their homes. The shelter in place asks residents to only leave their homes for essential purposes like going to the grocery store, doctor or work, Woodfin said.

“We urgently need the public’s cooperation today. If you haven’t started social distancing, please do so now,” said Sarah Nafziger co-chair, UAB’s Emergency Management Committee.

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin says 45 people with COVID-19 are being treated at UAB. He says 18 of those patients are on a ventilator. — Anna Beahm (@_AnnaBeahm) March 24, 2020

Officials with the Jefferson County Health Department were at the press conference and expressed support for the new rules.

“I recognize how big the sacrifice is, but this is our moment. It’s our moment to beat the virus. In order to be able to come out on the other side we have to do this. We will overcome,” said Dr. Wes Willeford with the JCDH.

Woodfin noted that the ordinance is not in conflict with county restrictions on the closures of non-essential businesses and the city is not adding to that list of businesses. Industries that are not on the non-essential list can still open for business, including manufacturing, logistics, supply chain, distribution, construction and law firms.

The order also allows for solitary exercise activities.

“You want to run, you want to hike, you want to bike, we encourage you to do that," Woodfin said.

City officials say the goal of the shelter in place ordinance is not to spur large-scale arrests.

“The intent is not to arrest anyone or put anyone in jail, but there must be a balance to make sure people comply with the law and the health department,” said city spokesman Rick Journey. Journey said Birmingham’s ordinance is not out of line with what other cities have done.

Other cities have enacted “shelter in place” orders. In Birmingham, the city has been under restrictions set by the county health officer and clarified on Sunday night. Fines under state law for violating public health orders can be $500 daily.

Under this proposal, the penalties available under the municipal code would apply, including a fine up to $500 and/or up to 180 days in the city jail. (Code 1-1-6 here)

The mayor told the council, which reconvenes at 4 p.m. to consider the measure, the city needs greater authority to disperse crowds and keep people off the streets.

Related: ‘A matter of life and death:’ Jefferson County police to enforce Alabama’s strictest coronavirus orders