Health

Nursing homes in Alabama care for the most vulnerable to serious complications and death from COVID-19, and by Saturday there were at least eight confirmed cases in six homes across the state.  It came as no surprise when confirmed cases started coming in, said John Matson, director of communications at the Alabama Nursing Home Association, … Continued

UPDATE: East Alabama Medical Center said Sunday that its death toll has increased to six. [visual-link-preview encoded=”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”] Five patients who were being treated for COVID-19 at East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika, Alabama, have died since Friday, the hospital said in a statement Saturday. “Our hospital family expresses its collective condolences to the families of … Continued

Lee County, home to Auburn University, is one of Alabama’s hardest-hit counties. Lab-confirmed cases of the coronavirus continue to rise there, and the county’s largest hospital is seeing a spike in hospitalizations. East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika has 20 patients hospitalized with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. There are 21 more hospitalized patients, whom … Continued

For the past five days, Pamela Franco hasn’t seen her fiancé except over FaceTime. She’s at UAB’s University Hospital on one of the floors set aside for those infected with the novel coronavirus. Franco’s room is a typical hospital room, which she isn’t allowed to leave. The exercise she gets is from walking around that … Continued

Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed on Friday ordered a curfew for Alabama’s capital city, which went into effect immediately and will be in place “indefinitely” as city officials try to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus.  The curfew will be in effect from 10 p.m until 5.am. each day  “We’re doing this as a measure … Continued

An Alabama National Guard airman tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday.  The airman, assigned to the 187th Fighter Wing  self-quarantined after experiencing symptoms, according to a statement released by Dannally Field officials Friday.  “Dannelly Field public health officials are working with military and state officials to monitor the airman who is recovering at home. The … Continued

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall on Friday announced a partnership with Facebook to address price-gouging on the social media site by people looking to profit from the COVID-19 pandemic.  “There is no question that unscrupulous operators are trying to take advantage of Alabamians looking to buy basic necessities to protect and sustain themselves and their … Continued

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Friday ordered closed until April 17 numerous types of businesses where personal contact is close, as the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths continues to increase statewide. Business ordered temporarily closed include athletic events, entertainment venues, non-essential retail shops and service establishments with close contact. “I do not believe our … Continued

The CEO of the American Diabetes Association today sent a letter to Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (R) on behalf of the approximately 2 million state residents living with diabetes and pre-diabetes. The letter calls for Governor Ivey to immediately address the vulnerable situation that people living with diabetes may find themselves in as unemployment skyrockets … Continued