Health

About half of Alabama students will start the year with virtual learning, superintendent says

As much as 50 percent of Alabama’s public school students will be learning virtually when school starts back, said Alabama’s State Superintendent of Education Eric Mackey on Friday. Mackey discussed the restart of school amid COVID-19 at a press briefing hosted by Sen. Doug Jones, D-Alabama, and said that while he prefers that students get … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

July 24, 2020

Federal government approves $5 billion for nursing homes amid surging COVID-19

The money can be used for staffing, testing and buying personal protective equipment.

Eddie Burkhalter

July 24, 2020

UAB to begin clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccine in August

If all goes well in upcoming clinical trials, the world could know if we have a safe, effective vaccine for COVID-19 as early as December, but questions remain about what immunity to the virus will look like. Dr. Paul Goepfert, professor of medicine in the UAB Division of Infectious Diseases, told reporters in a press briefing … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

July 24, 2020

Thursday set new record for most coronavirus cases reported in a day in Alabama

July has been by far the worst month since the crisis began. The top eight worst days for coronavirus cases have occurred in July.

Brandon Moseley

July 24, 2020

July is worst month yet for Alabama COVID-19 deaths

Deaths are dramatically up from the month of June, when 296 deaths were reported. Thus far in July, 399 Alabamians have died from COVID-19.

Brandon Moseley

July 23, 2020

Jones introduces bill to allow rural hospitals to access relief money

A bill has been introduced in Congress that would make federal emergency funds available to small hospitals that don’t currently qualify, according to Sen. Doug Jones, who co-sponsored the legislation with members of both parties. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act — or CARES Act — established the Paycheck Protection Program to provide … Continued

Micah Danney

July 23, 2020

Alabama reports record increase to COVID death toll

The Alabama Department of Public Health reported 57 new coronavirus deaths, breaking the previous daily record of 47 set July 15.

Eddie Burkhalter

July 22, 2020

Jefferson County health officer: Hospitals, testing sites, labs strained under surging COVID-19

Jefferson County’s top health official said Tuesday that the continued surge in COVID-19 cases is putting a strain on the area’s health care system, which is collectively near capacity. “We are in a much worse place than we were back in mid-April, late March. COVID-19 is now putting a strain on every part of our … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

July 21, 2020

Poll: Majority of Alabamians support masks, alternatives to in-person voting

Seventy-eight percent said they’re likely to wear face masks through the end of the year if the coronavirus pandemic persists, while 11 percent said they were unlikely to wear masks.

Eddie Burkhalter

July 21, 2020

Alabama reports record COVID hospitalizations for five straight days

While Monday was the fifth-straight day of record hospitalizations, it comes amid a month of accelerating hospitalization numbers.

Eddie Burkhalter

July 20, 2020