Alabama Department of Public Health

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

Long-term care residents make up almost half of the deaths in Alabama due to COVID-19, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health.  As of Tuesday, 224 of the state’s 504 deaths, or 44 percent, were residents in the state’s long-term care facilities, the department told APR. On Wednesday, the total number of deaths statewide … Continued

Ten more patients at the Mary Starke Harper Geriatric Psychiatric Center have tested positive for coronavirus.  Alabama Department of Mental Health spokeswoman Malissa Valdes-Hubert in a message to APR on Tuesday said there were 18 confirmed cases of the virus at the facility, which cares for elderly patients who are at more risk of serious … Continued

Four more prison workers have tested positive for COVID-19, the Alabama Department of Corrections announced Monday.  One worker at Staton Correctional Facility, one staff member at Kilby Correctional Facility and two workers at Frank Lee Community Based Facility/Community Work Center reported to the department that they’d tested positive for the virus, ADOC said in a … Continued

Three more patients at the state’s Mary Starke Harper Geriatric Psychiatric Center have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total to eight. Two nurses at the facility have also tested positive for the virus, and tests are pending for other patients.  The Alabama Department of Mental Health learned Thursday of the latest confirmed cases of … Continued

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management and the Alabama  Department of Public Health issued a joint statement today urging businesses that are reopening after the easing of coronavirus restrictions to thoroughly flush and inspect their water and air conditioning systems to avoid creating other potentially deadly health hazards – Legionnaires’disease and other bacterial infections. Legionnaires’ … Continued

Gov. Kay Ivey on Tuesday announced her closures of non-essential businesses and stay-at-home order will remain in effect until April 30, brushing back calls from some to immediately open businesses and lift social-distancing restrictions. “I’m as eager as anybody to get our economy back open spinning on all cylinders again,” Ivey said at a press … Continued

Access to healthcare services is critical to good health, yet Alabama rural residents face a variety of access barriers which are apparent to Senate Majority Leader Greg Reed, R-Jasper, and Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton, D- Greensboro.  Ideally, residents need to access services such as primary care, dental care, behavioral health, emergency care, and public health services.  In early 2020, Senator … Continued

I am tired of sitting at home.  I miss sports. I miss going out to eat — there might not be enough salsa at the Mexican restaurants when this coronavirus quarantine is over. And I miss just doing normal things.  But I don’t miss them enough that I’m OK with large numbers of people dying … Continued