Health Inspectors Are Enforcing Coronavirus Rules, Can Close Jefferson County Restaurants And Bars That Do Not Comply

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2020/07/Fish-Market-table-sign-768x657-1-e1594834855842.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:432;s:4:"file";s:59:"2020/07/Fish-Market-table-sign-768x657-1-e1594834855842.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:59:"Fish-Market-table-sign-768x657-1-e1594834855842-336x189.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:189;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:59:"Fish-Market-table-sign-768x657-1-e1594834855842-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:57:"Fish-Market-table-sign-768x657-1-e1594834855842-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:59:"Fish-Market-table-sign-768x657-1-e1594834855842-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:59:"Fish-Market-table-sign-768x657-1-e1594834855842-600x432.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:432;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:59:"Fish-Market-table-sign-768x657-1-e1594834855842-553x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:553;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:59:"Fish-Market-table-sign-768x657-1-e1594834855842-470x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:470;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:59:"Fish-Market-table-sign-768x657-1-e1594834855842-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:59:"Fish-Market-table-sign-768x657-1-e1594834855842-600x432.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:432;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:59:"Fish-Market-table-sign-768x657-1-e1594834855842-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_wp_attachment_backup_sizes] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:11:{s:9:"full-orig";a:3:{s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:657;s:4:"file";s:36:"Fish-Market-table-sign-768x657-1.jpg";}s:14:"thumbnail-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:44:"Fish-Market-table-sign-768x657-1-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:11:"medium-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:44:"Fish-Market-table-sign-768x657-1-336x287.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:287;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"wbhm-icon-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"Fish-Market-table-sign-768x657-1-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:44:"Fish-Market-table-sign-768x657-1-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"wbhm-featured-square-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:44:"Fish-Market-table-sign-768x657-1-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:23:"wbhm-featured-home-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:44:"Fish-Market-table-sign-768x657-1-364x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:364;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:27:"wbhm-featured-carousel-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:44:"Fish-Market-table-sign-768x657-1-310x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:310;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:33:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:44:"Fish-Market-table-sign-768x657-1-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:30:"ab-block-post-grid-square-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:44:"Fish-Market-table-sign-768x657-1-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:19:"post-thumbnail-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:44:"Fish-Market-table-sign-768x657-1-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Tom Gordon
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => BirminghamWatch
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

)
1657715855 
1594816754

The Jefferson County Health Department is using food inspectors to monitor restaurant and bars’ adherence to COVID-19 orders, and they can immediately close establishments that do not comply.

“We intend to check every place that serves food,” said Jefferson County Health Officer Dr. Mark Wilson. “COVID-19 is not part of food regulations, but we can still take action if we deem a bar or food establishment is a threat to public health.”

The inspectors can issue an emergency closure order if they see a restaurant or bar violates either county or state emergency orders concerning COVID-19. “We intend to use it, if we need to,” Wilson said.

The inspectors are acting under the state’s Safer at Home order, which expires July 31; and Wilson’s June 30 county order, which does not have an expiration date.

Wilson said the inspectors will work with establishment owners or managers to put together a plan that would bring the restaurant or bar in compliance with county and state orders. If the owners or managers do not comply or agree to cooperate, the establishments will be shut down, he said.

The inspectors can immediately shut down a bar or restaurant if they see gross non-compliance with health orders.

“We want people to know that we are serious about compliance,” Wilson said. “Our inspectors have to directly observe a failure to comply. We are our own witnesses, and we do not have to ask a judge for an emergency closure order.”

COVID-19 cases in Jefferson County have risen dramatically in the past few weeks. The county now has the highest number of cases and deaths in the state. Jefferson County had four deaths from the virus Monday, bringing the death total to 174. There are 7,186 confirmed cases in the county.

Food inspectors are now working nights, weekends and at odd hours to check restaurants and bars.

The state order requires restaurants and bars to limit the patron party size at tables to eight and maintain at least six feet of separation between people seated at different tables, booths, chairs or stools. Games, such as pool and darts, can be played if the six feet of distance is kept and game equipment is sanitized between uses.

Each employee must wear a mask at all times, and self-service by guests is prohibited.

“If customers are eating or drinking, the mask can be removed,” said Jonathan Stanton, director of Environmental Health at the county health department, which includes food inspectors. “But all people entering bars or restaurants must wear masks.”

“Inspectors will first work with business managers to try to resolve any problem,” Stanton said. “We encourage all restaurants to come up with a plan to protect patrons and follow all orders that we have. We are trying to protect everybody that we can.

“We work with each individual business to keep everybody safe. Then if we have someone who does violate the order, we make sure they continue to work with us,” he added.

Stanton said restaurants create their own safety plans, but what they can and cannot do depends on space. “Most businesses have really worked with us, and they understand how this affects their business operation,” he added.

The number of food inspectors varies from 30 to 60 depending on circumstances. “We try to get out there when we hear complaints,” Stanton said.

Complaints can be called into the Jefferson County Health Department at (205) 930-1260 or (205) 933-9110. Complaints also can be lodged by email at the department’s contact us page.

 

‘Love Island USA’ might decenter whiteness — but the show still won’t face reality

The finale of Love Island USA airs Sunday night. Critic Aisha Harris says it's impossible to separate the season's racial and ethnic diversity from the show's mealy-mouthed handling of behind-the-scenes drama.

Folklife stars: Maya artist, Bolivian rappers, Dolly Parton’s guitar restorer

They all showed off their talents at this year's Smithsonian Folklife Festival. The theme: How youth keep cultural traditions alive.

Israeli strikes in Gaza kill at least 19, hospitals say, as ceasefire talks drag on

Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip killed at least 19 people on Sunday, including six children at a water collection point, local health officials said.

‘Panicking’: Why recent college grads are struggling to find jobs

Recent college graduates are facing one of the most challenging job markets in years — with the exception of the pandemic period — even as the overall unemployment rate remains low.

The biggest piece of Mars on Earth is going up for auction in New York

Sotheby's in New York will be auctioning the largest piece of Mars ever found on Earth.

Camp Mystic asked to remove buildings from government flood maps despite risk

The data also highlights critical risks in other areas along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, and nationwide as many Americans have a flood risk they are not aware of.

More BirminghamWatch Coverage