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Eddie Burkhalter

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Eddie Burkhalter

Eddie Burkhalter is a reporter at the Alabama Political Reporter. You can email him at [email protected] or reach him via Twitter.

News / Economy / Governor / Health / National / State

Gov. Ivey says state’s banks prepared for COVID-19

Gov. Kay Ivey on Tuesday issued a statement expressing confidence in preparations made by Alabama’s banks in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. “I am confident in the preparations and plans that our financial institutions have put in place,” Ivey said in the statement. “I also have significant confidence in the underlying health of our … Continued
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March 17, 2020

SPLC joins ACLU of Alabama in request for plans to protect jails, prisons from COVID-19

Civil rights groups are demanding that action is taken to protect people in jails and prisons, who are vulnerable to the spread of COVID-19.  The Southern Poverty Law Center on Tuesday called for the federal government and officials in Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida to protect those facilities through evidence-based protocols and to “release those people … Continued
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March 17, 2020

Shelby County student tests positive for COVID-19

A Shelby County student has tested positive for COVID-19, the school system announced in a letter to parents Monday.  Shelby County Schools superintendent Lewis Brooks in the letter wrote that students attending Oak Mountain Intermediate and Oak Mountain Elementary may have been exposed to COVID-19 through contact with the student.  School officials weren’t certain when … Continued
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March 17, 2020

Jefferson County to close private schools, ban large gatherings and prohibit dine-in at restaurants, bars

Jefferson County, Alabama’s largest county, is banning gatherings of 25 or more, closing senior centers, banning visitors to nursing homes, and closing private schools until April 6. “I would not have considered this two days ago,” said Jefferson County Commission president Jimmie Stephens, speaking at a press conference Monday. Restaurants, bars and breweries are restricted … Continued
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March 16, 2020

Coronavirus testing still lagging in Alabama, expert says

Testing for COVID-19 in Alabama remains slow, due in part to inadequate capacity in the state’s lab to run the tests, and it’s a problem mirrored across the country, says an infectious disease expert in Birmingham.  Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, head of infectious diseases at University of Alabama at Birmingham, said during a press conference Monday … Continued
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March 16, 2020

Alabama hospital worker tests positive for coronavirus

An employee at East Alabama Medical Center in Lee County has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, a state health official said Monday.  The positive test was added Sunday evening to the Alabama Department of Public Health’s website, but the hospital announced Monday the person was a staff member.  State health officer Dr. Scott Harris … Continued
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March 16, 2020

Five central Alabama school systems closing immediately amid COVID outbreak

Five central Alabama public school systems have decided to close immediately as the numbers of coronavirus cases in the state continue to mount. Birmingham City Schools, Homewood City Schools, Oneonta City Schools, Vestavia Hills City Schools and Jefferson County schools are all closing immediately. Vestavia Hills City Schools statement on closure  “Vestavia Hills City Schools … Continued
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March 14, 2020