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Isolation, mental health problems persist for seniors in Alabama amid COVID-19

Seniors in Alabama are among the most vulnerable to COVID-19, and the isolation caused by the social distancing needed to keep them safe comes with its own set of special problems for them, according to state experts on senior care. Those experts spoke about the needs of Alabama seniors amid the COVID-19 crisis during a … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

May 12, 2020

Inmate dies after falling ill at Birmingham work release center

A woman serving at the Birmingham Women’s Community Based Facility and Community Work Center died Monday after falling ill and being taken to a local hospital, according to the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office. Colony Nicole Wilson, 40, complained of feeling sick while at the Birmingham work release center and was taken to St. Vincent’s Hospital, … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

May 12, 2020

Prison workers at Kilby, Tutwiler prisons test positive for COVID-19

An employee at the Kilby Correctional Facility and another worker at the Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women have tested positive for COVID-19, the Alabama Department of Corrections announced Monday. The two workers have self-quarantined and ADOC’s Office of Health Services is investigating whether any inmates or coworkers may have been exposed to the infected employee, … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

May 11, 2020

Alabama passes 10,000 COVID-19 cases, 400 deaths as more businesses reopen

The number of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 in Alabama surpassed 10,000 and the death toll reached 400 on Monday as more businesses including restaurants, barbershops, gyms and salons began reopening after the governor relaxed her “safer-at-home” restrictions. Infectious diseases experts and public health officials stress the virus is still spreading in the … Continued

Chip Brownlee

May 11, 2020

Alabama ranks as 4th most open state despite rise in COVID-19 cases

Gov. Kay Ivey’s decision Friday to reopen more state businesses and relax more of her safer-at-home order starting Monday put Alabama as the fourth most open state in the nation, according to a state and local government lobbying firm’s analysis. The Alexandria, Virginia-based Multistate Associates lobbying firm on Monday moved Alabama from the 22nd most … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

May 11, 2020

Opinion

Alabama is “reopening” on Monday, but not because things are better

Things are not better. COVID-19 has not slowed its spread throughout the state of Alabama. It is not easing. Numbers are not down. In fact, more new cases were reported a couple of days last week than ever before. From what I can tell, not a single benchmark set by the Trump White House has … Continued

Josh Moon

May 11, 2020

Inmate at overcrowded Kilby Prison tests positive for COVID-19

An inmate at the Kilby Correctional Facility in Montgomery has tested positive for COVID-19, becoming the ninth state inmate with a confirmed case of the virus. The inmate was exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 and was admitted to a local hospital, where he tested positive for COVID-19, the Alabama Department of Corrections said in a statement … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

May 9, 2020

Jones calls for continued social distancing, wearing masks amid partial reopening

Sen. Doug Jones, D-Alabama, on Friday urged Alabamians to heed Gov. Kay Ivey’s warning that, despite her decision announced earlier on Friday to relax more of the provisions of her “safer-at-home” order, COVID-19 is still with us, and still deadly. “I appreciate the fact that the Governor is doing all she can to walk a … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

May 8, 2020

Gov. Kay Ivey extends public health emergency, issues COVID-19 lawsuit protections

Gov. Kay Ivey on Friday extended the formal “public health emergency” for 60 days, beginning May 13. Ivey also issued another proclamation that provides liability protection for businesses and health care providers from being sued over COVID-19 matters if those businesses and health care providers “comply with or reasonably attempt to comply with applicable public … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

May 8, 2020

Alabama reports largest single-day increase in new COVID-19 cases

Alabama reported nearly 2,000 new COVID-19 cases over the last seven days — the highest number of new reported cases over a seven-day period since the outbreak began. Thursday also showed the largest single-day increase in new reported cases. The increase comes as the governor is coming under increasing pressure from business groups and Republican … Continued

Chip Brownlee

May 7, 2020