Health

More than half of Alabama COVID-19 deaths have come in July and August

More Alabamians have died in July and the first two and a half weeks of August than died in the first four months of the pandemic combined. The Alabama Department of Public Health on Tuesday reported 12 more deaths from COVID-19 in Alabama, taking the state death toll to at least 1,867. At least 926 … Continued

August 19, 2020

Alabama Public Health warns against COVID-19 misinformation shared on social media

It was unclear Tuesday who made the chart or why, but it has been circulated so widely on social media in recent days that prominent infectious diseases doctors in the state took notice and began to issue warnings about its flawed assumptions.

August 18, 2020

COVID-19 exposure notification app now available to the public

Public health officials are hoping as many people as possible download a phone app that can notify them if they’ve been exposed to someone who’s tested positive for COVID-19. The more people who do so, the better the app can help slow the spread of the deadly disease, said Curtis Carver, UAB’s chief information officer, … Continued

August 17, 2020

Jefferson County health officer, UAB head say COVID-19 numbers are improving but flu season is near

Jefferson County Health Officer Dr. Mark Wilson said Friday that the county’s COVID-19 numbers are improving, but with schools reopening and flu season approaching, it’s critical for the public to continue wearing face masks and practicing social distancing. Wilson and Will Ferniany, the CEO of the UAB Health System, held a press briefing on Friday … Continued

August 14, 2020

Seventeenth Alabama inmate dies after testing positive for COVID-19

William Edward King, 65, is the 17th Alabama inmate to die after testing positive for COVID-19. King tested positive for COVID-19 on June 1 at a local hospital, where he was being treated for an end-stage preexisting medical condition, the Alabama Department of Corrections announced on Thursday. King’s condition improved, and he was released, but … Continued

August 14, 2020

Internal report on Alabama inmate’s death backs statements by concerned whistleblowers

Almost all of the information in the report has already been published through APR’s own independent reporting on McMillian’s death, and the report corroborates much of APR’s reporting.

August 13, 2020

More than 100,000 Alabamians have contracted the coronavirus

The Alabama Department of Public Health reported an additional 875 positive cases of the novel strain of the coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, in Alabama, bringing the total number of infections since March to more than 100,000. The number of known cases in the state has reached 100,801. More than half of those cases — 52,213 cases — … Continued

August 13, 2020

Governor announces $26 million in federal COVID-19 aid to state agriculture industries

Gov. Kay Ivey on Wednesday announced the award of $26 million in federal coronavirus relief funds to the state’s agriculture industries. “Agriculture has an economic impact of over $70 billion in the state of Alabama. I know firsthand how hard our farmers work each day, and they are without a doubt a major part of … Continued

August 13, 2020

Two top officials at Taylor Hardin resign as continued staff shortages result in assaults

The facility’s director and director of nursing both abruptly resigned around July 24, and although there have been rumors as to why among staff, there’s no clear indication why the two top facility officials left.

August 12, 2020

Alabama’s spike in daily COVID-19 deaths Tuesday result of process delays

The Alabama Department of Public Health on Tuesday recorded 48 new COVID-19 deaths in the state, bringing the total number of coronavirus deaths over the last two weeks to 335, the third-highest two-week total since the start of the pandemic. In June, at least 296 Alabamians died from coronavirus, the Alabama Department of Public Health … Continued

August 11, 2020