Author

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 / Health / State

Seven coronavirus cases confirmed in Alabama

Updated March 14 at 6:50 p.m. to reflect the latest changes in numbers. Future updates will be posted here. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Friday declared a state of emergency as two confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, and three more preliminary cases, were announced throughout the day. By Friday night, a total of six … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

March 13, 2020

Alabama’s first coronavirus case identified as Maxwell Air Force Base worker

A civilian worker at Maxwell Air Force Base has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, becoming the state’s first confirmed case to date. The person returned home from traveling in Illinois, according to a press release from the base on Friday. The person is being treated and monitored by “off-base medical agencies.” “The civilian employee … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

March 13, 2020

Montgomery County person Alabama’s first confirmed coronavirus case

Alabama’s first confirmed case of a person with the novel coronavirus was discovered Friday morning, state officials said. The person lives in Montgomery County and had traveled to another state that has a coronavirus outbreak, said State Public Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris in a press conference Friday. Harris didn’t say where the person had … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

March 13, 2020

Drive-thru coronavirus testing open in Birmingham, Bessemer

Note: This article is from March 13. New coronavirus testing resources are located on this page, which will be regularly updated. Two new drive-thru locations in Birmingham and Bessemer are accepting samples to be tested for the novel coronavirus at a Birmingham company’s lab, and can have results within four hours, according to the company. … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

March 13, 2020

Lack of coronavirus testing in Alabama, across U.S. concerning, says Doug Jones

A lack of testing for coronavirus in Alabama and across the country means we don’t know how widespread the deadly virus already is, said U.S. Sen. Doug Jones on Thursday. Meanwhile, legislators in Montgomery on Thursday approved a $5 million appropriation to the Alabama Department of Public Health for “preparedness and response activities.” Alabama Sen. … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

March 13, 2020

JSU student being tested for coronavirus. Classes move online Friday

A Jacksonville State University student was being tested for coronavirus and all class begining Friday would move online, the university announced Thursday. “The student felt ill Sunday evening after returning from out-of-state,” the university said in a statement. Since falling ill the student visited three locations on campus – the weight training area at Kennamer … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

March 13, 2020

Huntsville man awaits coronavirus results, says doctor struggled to find lab to test

A Huntsville man who just returned from Europe said a doctor spent an hour on the phone trying to find a lab in Alabama to test him for coronavirus, and eventually decided to send his sample to a commercial lab. The 39-year-old man, who asked not to be named, told APR on Thursday his family … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

March 13, 2020

Group of 40 companies oppose legislation targeting transgender youth

Bills in the House and Senate would make it a felony for a physician to perform surgery or prescribe medicine intended to delay the onset of puberty to minors.

Eddie Burkhalter

March 12, 2020

Trump suspends travel to U.S. form Europe, coronavirus declared pandemic

President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he was suspending all travel to the U.S. from Europe for the next 30 days in an effort to prevent wider spread of coronavirus. Trump, speaking from the Oval Office, said travel from the UK would not be suspended. The travel ban will go into effect Friday at midnight. … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

March 12, 2020

No Alabama hospitals can independently test for coronavirus

No hospital in Alabama on Tuesday could independently test for coronavirus, said the head of the Alabama Hospital Association. The state’s own public health lab in Montgomery began testing for COVID-19 on March 5, and as of Tuesday, less than 20 people in Alabama have been tested since the virus was detected in late 2019, … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

March 11, 2020