Alabama State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris

Health

ADPH reports downturns in healthcare-associated infection rates

Alabama hospitals outperformed national baselines in three of four infection categories, highlighting improvements in statewide patient care practices.

March 4, 2026

Stethoscope tied in a knot around a fist full of money

Report featuring ADPH head highlights threats to public health funding

A new report raised concerns about proposed federal funding cuts impacting public health. The head of the Alabama Department of Public Health shared insights.

September 19, 2025

Alabama’s COVID hospitalizations, positivity rate rising

Alabama's positivity rate was 15 percent on Thursday, three times what public health officials say it should be.

June 3, 2022

COVID mitigation for the World Games in Birmingham uncertain

A World Games spokesman told APR that officials are monitoring COVID and will follow guidelines of local public health authorities.

April 25, 2022

Alabama State Health Officer tests positive for COVID

Dr. Scott Harris, who is vaccinated and boosted, on Tuesday tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday but is exhibiting mild symptoms.

April 13, 2022

Alabama seeing record new COVID cases, hospitalizations continue rising

Treatments for the more contagious omicron variant are in short supply in Alabama as COVID cases surge and hospitalizations grow.

January 5, 2022

COVID cases, hospitalizations increasing in Alabama

The number of Alabamians hospitalized with COVID-19 on Sunday increased by 16 percent from two weeks before.

December 21, 2021

Alabama confirms first case of Omicron COVID variant

The Alabamian confirmed to have the omicron variant had no travel history outside of the state.

December 16, 2021

More than half of those with COVID suffer longer-lasting health problems

UAB’s Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo said data from studies of long COVID are troubling, and there's still much to learn about long-term impacts.

November 19, 2021

Majority of confirmed COVID reinfections in Alabama among unvaccinated

Of those Alabamians who have had more than one confirmed COVID case, 87 percent were unvaccinated.

October 13, 2021