Alabama Governor Kay Ivey on Thursday unveiled a series of updates to the State Health Order regarding the rules across the state during the coronavirus pandemic.

The bulk of the order is aimed at temporarily increasing the size and effectiveness of Alabama’s health care workforce and facilities in anticipation of a surge of COVID-19 patients.

The governor’s updated order also mandates that any person who is currently in county jail due to a probation or parole violation, and has been there for more than 20 days, shall be released.

The governor’s decree argues that “jails inherently heighten the possibility of COVID-19” and the measure is intended to reduce that risk.

Other updates involved the ability for certain tasks like the notarizing of documents and corporate shareholder meetings to be done remotely. A notary public in Alabama can now notarize documents through videoconferencing software.

The first measure of the updated order expands the responsibilities that nurses with the proper certifications are allowed to perform. Nurses who have been certified for work in outside states are now authorized to practice in Alabama. Furthermore, doctors and other medical professionals who have recently left the field can now expect expedited reinstatement of their licenses upon application.

Red tape has been cut to make it easier for hospitals to expand their capacity should they need to.

Meetings required by law to be held in public can now be done remotely, including shareholder meetings of corporations.

The full order can be read here.

Henry Thornton is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him by email: henry@new-yhn.local or on Twitter @HenryThornton95.