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Alabama Department of Public Health

News / Health

Governor Ivey releases statement on Alabama’s first confirmed coronavirus case

Governor Kay Ivey on Friday, upon learning of Alabama’s first confirmed Coronavirus (COVID-19) case, released the following statement: “Along with my fellow Alabamians, I have closely monitored the rapidly changing events regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19). As a state, we have taken precautionary measures and made preparations in the case that the virus would eventually reach … Continued
March 13, 2020

Lack of coronavirus testing in Alabama, across U.S. concerning, says Doug Jones

A lack of testing for coronavirus in Alabama and across the country means we don’t know how widespread the deadly virus already is, said U.S. Sen. Doug Jones on Thursday.  Meanwhile, legislators in Montgomery on Thursday approved a $5 million appropriation to the Alabama Department of Public Health for “preparedness and response activities.”  Alabama Sen. … Continued
March 13, 2020

Scott Harris updates House Health Committee on coronavirus crisis

Wednesday, House Health Committee Chairman Paul Lee (R-Dothan) asked Alabama Public Health Officer Scott Harris and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama Vice President for Governmental Affairs Ted Hosp to provide an update on the coronavirus theat. Harris said as you know, we have not had a lot of testing. “I have no doubt,” we … Continued
March 13, 2020

No Alabama hospitals can independently test for coronavirus

No hospital in Alabama on Tuesday could independently test for coronavirus, said the head of the Alabama Hospital Association.  The state’s own public health lab in Montgomery began testing for COVID-19 on March 5, and as of Tuesday, less than 20 people in Alabama have been tested since the virus was detected in late 2019, … Continued
March 11, 2020

Alabama’s State Public Health lab ready to test for coronavirus

It was unclear for a time Thursday whether Alabama’s public health lab in Montgomery could test for coronavirus or not.  Conflicting statements Thursday from an Alabama Department of Public Health physician and a tweet an hour later from the department’s official Twitter account made it uncertain whether the state’s lab can or cannot test for … Continued
March 6, 2020

Senate Health Committee updated on coronavirus crisis

Wednesday, Alabama Public Health Officer Scott Harris told the Alabama Senate Health Committee, “We have no cases in Alabama,” referring to the new strain of the coronavirus – COVID-19. The Chairman of the Senate Health Committee is Senator Jim McClendon (R-Springville). McClendon asked Dr. Harris to update the Committee on the threat from the coronavirus. … Continued
March 5, 2020

Inmate at Ventress prison tests positive for Tuberculosis

An inmate at the Ventress Correctional Facility in Clayton has tested positive for Tuberculosis, prompting the Alabama Department of Corrections to stop transfers of inmates into and out of the prison and test the remaining prison population and staff.  APR confirmed on Friday that ADOC was responding to the positive test for TB at the … Continued
February 14, 2020