Health

Selma Mayor orders face masks, joining other local leaders in response to COVID-19

Selma Mayor Darrio Melton on Friday signed an order requiring people to wear face masks while in public, with some exceptions, to slow the spread of COVID-19. Melton’s order makes exceptions for those in the outdoors, unless they’re around 10 people or more or cannot maintain six feet of distance from others, and those working … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

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June 26, 2020

Jefferson County mask order goes into effect Monday amid surge in COVID-19 cases

As new cases and hospitalizations of COVID-19 continue to surge in Jefferson County, the county’s health officer on Friday announced an order that will require people to wear masks while in public. Jefferson County Health Officer Dr. Mark Wilson, in a press briefing Friday, said the mask order for the public will be effective as … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

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June 26, 2020

Alabama prison worker dies after testing positive for COVID-19

There have been 29 confirmed COVID-19 cases among staff at Tutwiler, and seven cases among women serving there.

Eddie Burkhalter

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June 26, 2020

Doug Jones urges Alabama small businesses to apply for COVID-19 aid

U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, D-Alabama, on Friday encouraged Alabama’s small businesses to apply for COVID-19 relief funds through the Paycheck Protection Program before the June 30 deadline.  “All small businesses in Alabama should reach out to their bank or credit union to check to see if they’re eligible to benefit from PPP loans before the … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

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June 26, 2020

Alabama COVID-19 hospitalizations at all-time high, new daily cases remain high

The number of new COVID-19 cases in Alabama jumped by 964 on Friday, a sign that days of record-breaking new daily cases may not be coming to an end, and community spread of the virus continues.  Alabama’s 964 new cases on Friday was the third-highest daily count since the pandemic began, and came the day … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

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June 26, 2020

Jones: We are still in the first wave of the coronavirus

U.S. Sen. Doug Jones on Thursday addressed reporters on the worsening coronavirus crisis in the state of Alabama, along with UAB’s Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, an infectious diseases expert who joined Jones on the conference call. “As a nation, we peaked on April 23 at 39,000 cases a day,” Jones said, adding that by the end … Continued

Brandon Moseley

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June 26, 2020

Federal appeals court rules against Alabama in COVID-19 voting case

Judges on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals turned down the state of Alabama’s appeal to the court over a federal judge’s ruling lifting a statewide ban on curbside voting and waiving certain absentee ballot requirements for voters in at least Jefferson, Mobile, and Lee Counties for the July 14 runoff. U.S. Circuit judges Jill … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

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June 25, 2020

UAB specialist urges masks, personal responsibility over another lockdown

Alabama’s best chance at reversing its upward trend of COVID-19 cases is not to shut down again, but to get more serious about wearing masks in public, social distancing and sheltering in place whenever possible, said a Birmingham infectious diseases expert on Thursday. Shutting down in March and April was like doing a sprint, said … Continued

Micah Danney

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June 25, 2020

State health officer worried COVID-19 is too widespread for contact tracing to work

Alabama saw yet another record-high daily increase in COVID-19 cases on Thursday, and although a commercial contract tracing firm is to soon start working in the state, with cases so widespread and many not tied to specific events or places, the state health officer worries it’s too late for tracing to be effective.  Alabama recorded … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

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June 25, 2020