Author

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.

“Expect a second wave:” What lifting restrictions too soon could look like

Public health experts in Alabama are urging caution and restraint as discussions abound about lifting the state’s stay-at-home order and relaxing other restrictions on the economy in the days and weeks ahead. Two experts dealing closely with the outbreak warn that reopening will almost certainly lead to a second wave of infections but reopening too … Continued

Chip Brownlee

April 20, 2020

Alabama COVID-19 cases surpass 5,000. At least 168 reported deaths

The number of lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases has surpassed 5,000 in Alabama. The Alabama Department of Public Health says that 5,008 people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, as of Monday afternoon. At least 168 people have died after testing positive. Of those, 113 deaths have been found to be primarily caused by COVID-19 after … Continued

Chip Brownlee

April 20, 2020

Is Alabama ready to ease COVID-19 restrictions? A look at the data

It’s been 39 days since Alabama confirmed its first cases of COVID-19 on March 13. Now, more than a month later, the number of people who have tested positive for the coronavirus is nearing 5,000. Tracking the coronavirus as it has spread in Alabama has been difficult. Testing has been limited. Data, at times, has … Continued

Chip Brownlee

April 20, 2020

Alabama Public Health: At least 1,200 people have “recovered” from COVID-19

At least 1,200 people have “recovered” from infection with COVID-19, the Alabama Department of Public Health said Sunday in a statement to APR. “Recovered is a broad term used based upon persons who were no longer having symptoms at the time of interview and/or have completed quarantine,” said Dr. Karen Landers, the assistant state health … Continued

Chip Brownlee

April 19, 2020

Medal of Honor recipient Bennie Adkins dies after battle with COVID-19

Command Sergeant Major Bennie G. Adkins, from Lee County, a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, has died. He was 86. “We are deeply saddened to notify you that after a courageous battle with COVID-19, Command Sergeant Major Bennie G. Adkins departed this life today, with beloved family at his bedside,” the Bennie Adkins … Continued

Chip Brownlee

April 17, 2020

280,000 Alabamians filed unemployment claims over the last month

The economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic is continuing to add Alabamians to the state’s unemployment rolls. Another 77,515 Alabamians filed an initial jobless claim last week, bringing the total since the week ending March 14 up to 279,431, or about 12.5 percent of the state’s total labor force in February 2020. The number of … Continued

Chip Brownlee

April 16, 2020

Alabama surpasses 4,000 COVID-19 cases, reported deaths reach 116

At least 4,000 Alabamians have tested positive for COVID-19, the Alabama Department of Public Health says. As of Wednesday morning, 4,006 positive cases have been reported in the state. At least 116 people have died after testing positive for the virus. Of those, 75 deaths have been verified by the department of health’s epidemiology staff. … Continued

Chip Brownlee

April 15, 2020

Governor: It would be “irresponsible” for Alabama to expand Medicaid right now

Gov. Kay Ivey on Tuesday tamped down discussion about expanding Medicaid in Alabama, saying it would be financially irresponsible to expand the program, which provides health insurance to low-income people, during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Certainly we’re concerned about the health and welfare of all of our citizens, wherever they may live,” Ivey said. “But at … Continued

Chip Brownlee

April 14, 2020

Gov. Kay Ivey: Now is not the time to “pretend things are back to normal”

Alabama expects the peak of the coronavirus in the next week or two, Gov. Kay Ivey and State Health Officer Scott Harris said Tuesday at a press conference in Montgomery, stressing the importance of staying on course for the time being with the state’s shelter-in-place and social distancing orders. “It is imperative that we keep … Continued

Chip Brownlee

April 14, 2020

40 Alabama nursing homes in 20 counties have COVID-19 cases

At least 40 nursing homes across 20 counties in Alabama have reported at least one COVID-19 positive resident or employee, according the Alabama Nursing Home Association. ANHA spokesperson John Matson told APR Saturday that the association is aware of 40 facilities reporting cases. It does not have any information on deaths among residents or employees. The Alabama … Continued

Chip Brownlee

April 11, 2020