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Chip Brownlee

Chip Brownlee is a former political reporter, online content manager and webmaster at the Alabama Political Reporter. He is now a reporter at The Trace, a non-profit newsroom covering guns in America.

News / Health / State

840 hospitalized with confirmed, suspected COVID-19 in Alabama

More than 800 people are hospitalized in Alabama with a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. State Health Officer Scott Harris said Friday evening that 255 people are hospitalized with a confirmed positive case of the virus. An additional 586 people are hospitalized with a suspected case of … Continued
April 3, 2020

Governor: More than 200 health care workers infected with COVID-19

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said Friday at a press conference that 200 health care workers in the state have contracted COVID-19. The governor reported that number while announcing a new statewide stay-at-home order that will go into effect on Saturday, April 4, at 5 p.m. It will remain in effect until April 30. “Those people … Continued
April 3, 2020

Gov. Kay Ivey orders Alabama to stay at home as cases near 1,500

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey is issuing a stay-at-home order, reversing course after two weeks of saying the state didn’t need one. “I can’t say this any more clearly,” Ivey said. “COVID-19 is an imminent threat to our way of life. And you need to understand that we have passed urging people to stay at home. … Continued
April 3, 2020

City of Mobile issues stay-at-home order

The city of Mobile is telling its residents to stay at home. Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson says he has signed a stay-at-home order for the city. “It’s something that we’ve been considering for several days, but it’s only now that we feel like we’ve gotten all of the information that we need to do this … Continued
April 3, 2020

Birmingham extends shelter-in-place until end of April

The city of Birmingham has extended its shelter in place order until April 30. The Birmingham City Council voted unanimously to implement the order, which requires residents to stay home except for essential activities like getting food, seeking medical care or performing critical work functions. It was set to expire at midnight. Mayor Randall Woodfin … Continued
April 3, 2020

Alabama hospitals facing “dire” equipment shortages

Every morning the team at UAB Hospital gets a report on the number of patients who come into the hospital infected with COVID-19 and their status. Then the doctors and other health care professions on the team receive an update on the number of days they have left before their supply of personal protective equipment … Continued
April 2, 2020

Gov. Ivey OKs release of some parole violators in jails

Gov. Kay Ivey is allowing the release of some alleged probation and parole violators in the custody of jails across the state. She’s also issued a number of new directives to free up health care resources. The measures are intended to slow the transmission of COVID-19 and prepare for a rise in hospitalizations. In a … Continued
April 2, 2020

Alabama Dept. of Corrections has tested 17 inmates for COVID-19

The Alabama Department of Corrections has tested 17 inmates in nine of the state’s prisons for the novel coronavirus. All tests so far have been negative. Five more inmates have been tested, but their results are pending. ADOC began publishing test data on its website Thursday. It says it will update the information twice a … Continued
April 2, 2020