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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

First death from COVID-19 reported in Alabama

Alabama has reported its first death from the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The Jackson County Commission, in a statement posted to their Facebook page Wednesday, said a county employee died from the virus. “The Jackson County Commission and the employees of the county offer the family of one of our part-time employees its heartfelt … Continued
March 25, 2020

Nick Saban and UAB hospital: “STAY HOME”

University of Alabama head football coach Nick Saban and UAB hospital have an important reminder for the public: STAY HOME. Medical experts are pleading with community members to stay home and keep your kids at home. Meanwhile, hospitals in the state are seeing a spike in patients being hospitalized for the virus. UAB continues to … Continued
March 25, 2020

Mayor Walt Maddox orders curfew in Tuscaloosa

Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox signed an executive order Wednesday, establishing a mandatory curfew in the city from Friday night until at least April 3. The curfew is from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. The goal is to reduce social gatherings, especially among young people in the community. “This may be the first of many steps,” … Continued
March 25, 2020

Alabama hospitals begin to see significant spike in COVID-19 hospitalizations

Alabama hospitals are already beginning to see a sharp increase in hospitalizations related to the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 as the number of confirmed cases accelerates in the state. Data gathered over the last 24 hours by the Alabama Political Reporter show that more than 100 people are hospitalized statewide with a confirmed diagnosis … Continued
March 25, 2020

Alabama is going to need more ventilators. It seems to have no plan

It has been less than two weeks since Alabama reported its first positive case of the new novel coronavirus. Since then, the number has jumped to 242 positive cases. There are sure to be more. Several hospitals across the state, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health, are already nearing their capacity. At any … Continued
March 24, 2020

45 COVID-19 cases hospitalized at UAB, 18 on ventilators

UPDATE: For a more recent look at UAB’s hospitalization numbers, look at this page. UPDATE: The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday afternoon passed Mayor Woodfin’s shelter-in-place order. You can read the ordinance at the bottom of this story. Birmingham is the first city in the state to issue such an order to curb the spread … Continued
March 24, 2020

Alabama state health officer: “Some hospitals are already nearing capacity”

Alabama Department of Public Health officer Dr. Scott Harris, at a press conference Monday, again urged Alabamians to take the COVID-19 pandemic seriously and abide by social-distancing restrictions the state has ordered. A number of hospitals in the state are already “nearing capacity,” as the number of cases in Alabama continues to rise. As of … Continued
March 23, 2020

Jefferson County orders more businesses closed amid COVID-19 crisis

The Jefferson County Department of Health on Sunday issued an update to its public health order, adding more restrictions and clarifying that a number of businesses need to close by Monday at 5 p.m. Jefferson County Health Officer, Dr. Mark Wilson, tightened his public health order Sunday, ordering that all hair salons and barbershops close … Continued
March 23, 2020

As hospitals take drastic action to conserve masks, staff worry they’re putting themselves and patients at risk

Some health care workers at DCH Health System’s facilities in Tuscaloosa County are being told not to wear personal protective equipment like masks as the number of COVID-19 cases in the state continues to rise and hospitals rush to prepare for what’s ahead. Now a clinician in one of these units is showing symptoms of … Continued
March 23, 2020