Health

Alabama considering delaying March 31 primary runoff election

Secretary of State John Merrill and Gov. Kay Ivey are considering delaying Alabama’s March 31 primary runoff election amid the coronavirus outbreak. Merrill said on Twitter Sunday evening that he has asked Attorney General Steve Marshall for an AG’s opinion about allowing Ivey to postpone the runoff to a date to be determined in the … Continued

Chip Brownlee

March 15, 2020

Coronavirus testing to open at Church of the Highlands Grandview Campus in Birmingham

Christ Health Center in partnership with Church of the Highlands is launching an effort to test for COVID-19, the novel coronavirus, in Birmingham. Testing will begin on Tuesday, March 17. Christ Health Center, in partnership with Church of the Highlands, Assurance Scientific, and in consultation with Jefferson County Department of Public Health and local hospital … Continued

Chip Brownlee

March 15, 2020

You can vote absentee if you’re concerned about contracting or spreading coronavirus

Voters who are concerned about contracting or spreading an illness—including the novel coronavirus—can apply for an absentee ballot to vote in the upcoming primary runoff. The election will continue as planned, Secretary of State John Merill said. Merrill is in contact with local election officials in all 67 countries to encourage preventative measures to maintain … Continued

March 15, 2020

Community College System discontinues on-campus instruction during COVID-19 outbreak

The Alabama Community College System (ACCS) will temporarily discontinue on-campus instruction at 23 institutions across the state for the period of March 17 – April 3. Many ACCS institutions have a scheduled Spring Break during this time and students may be asked to extend this break period. This will allow the colleges faculty, staff, and … Continued

March 14, 2020

Nursing Home Association announces visitation restrictions

Alabama Nursing Home Association President & CEO Brandon Farmer announced Saturday new visitation restrictions designed to protect Alabama’s most vulnerable citizens from COVID-19. “With a national state of emergency declared by the President, the Alabama Nursing Home Association is urging all nursing homes in the state to follow the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ … Continued

Brandon Moseley

March 14, 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

Eddie Burkhalter

March 14, 2020

State announces visitation changes at four veterans homes due to coronavirus

The Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs on Friday announced a change to its visitation policy at the state’s four veterans homes as the first confirmed cases of COVID-19 were announced the same day. “The new policy temporarily restricts routine visitations to those four facilities. Routine visits by non-employees, to include work conducted by volunteers, have … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

March 13, 2020

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