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With her safer at home order set to expire on Friday, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey held a press conference Thursday afternoon to extend the state’s order until July 3.

“Today is the next step in what has seemed like a long and difficult process of reopening our economy, while at the same time remaining true to the belief that this is a serious and deadly disease,” Ivey said. 

Just as she did earlier in the month, Ivey loosened restrictions and opened businesses and activities that were put on hold in April.

“We cannot sustain a delayed way of life as we search for a vaccine,” Ivey said. “It is now time that we move forward and further open our state and live with the normal of incorporating COVID-19 precautions into our routine.”

In the new guidelines, entertainment venues, such as arcades, theaters and bowling alleys, are able to reopen as long as they follow social distancing and sanitation rules. Enclosed venues will limit their occupancy to 50% of the total occupancy as determined by the fire marshal. Outdoor venues will limit occupancy to comply with distancing guidelines.

This does not include playgrounds operated by schools and child daycare facilities. Night clubs are also not included.

Effective Thursday at 5 p.m. CT and effective until June 14, team athletic activities are limited to practices only. Practices include conditioning, skill drill and similar activities. On June 15, all athletic activities are allowed as long as they follow guidelines.

Players, coaches, officials and spectators are not permitted to be within 6 feet of a person outside of their household except for direct participation in the activity. Players, coaches, officials and spectators are to refrain from physical contact, except to in order to participate in the event. All people participating in the activity are to wear a mask or facial covering while participating in the event and are not allowed to share drinking stations.

Effective May 23, day and overnight youth camps will be allowed to open as long as they follow guidelines. Employees shall not allow campers to congregate within 6 feet of a person from a different household. Employees are to wear a mask or facial covering when in contact with campers.

Child care facilities are allowed to open effective May 23 at 5 p.m. They must enforce the 6-foot social distancing guidelines and employees must wear a mask or facial covering when interacting with students or guests.

Nursing homes will remain closed to the public as they are still a key area in the state for spreading COVID-19.

“That is why neither Dr. [Scott] Harris or I can with a clean conscience allow things to return to normal as related to reopening our nursing homes and hospitals to visitation beyond compassionate care situations,” Ivey said.