Alabama Department of Public Health

News / Health / State

Deaths among Alabama’s long-term care residents more than double over two weeks

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

Eddie Burkhalter

May 20, 2020

Ten more COVID-19 cases at state’s Mary Starke Harper Geriatric Psychiatric Center

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

Eddie Burkhalter

May 19, 2020

Four more prison workers test positive for coronavirus

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

Eddie Burkhalter

May 18, 2020

More COVID-19 cases at Mary Starke Harper Geriatric Psychiatric Center

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

Eddie Burkhalter

May 15, 2020

State warns reopening businesses to flush water systems to avoid Legionnaires, other diseases

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

April 30, 2020

Ivey says her “stay-at-home” order remains in effect until April 30

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

Eddie Burkhalter

April 21, 2020

Senators work with Supercomputer Authority to expand telehealth options

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

April 21, 2020

Opinion

Reopening the state will require effort from everyone

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

Josh Moon

April 17, 2020

Federal judge blocks Alabama’s temporary abortion ban amid COVID-19

A federal judge Sunday evening issued a preliminary injunction preventing the state of Alabama from banning abortions during the COVID-19 crisis. The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Alabama on March 30 filed a court document arguing that Alabama is restricting access to abortions under the guise of protecting the public from COVID-19. … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

April 12, 2020

Jefferson County health officer: Please don’t let your guard down now

Things appear to be improving in Jefferson County, but it is too early to know, the top health official in the state’s largest county said Friday. The county has experienced a slower rate of growth in new COVID-19 cases in recent days, and the number of hospitalizations is down to 40 at UAB Medicine, the … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

April 10, 2020