coronavirus

News / Health / State

UAB labs to start in-house COVID-19 testing by end of week

The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s pathology lab is to start testing for COVID-19 using the laboratory’s own test by the end of the week. “This test should be available by the end of this week and will allow us to begin processing 100 tests per day,” said Dr. Sixto Leal, assistant professor of Pathology … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

March 17, 2020

Redstone Arsenal pharmacy worker tests positive for COVID-19

A civilian employee at a pharmacy at Redstone Arsenal has tested positive for COVID-19, the U.S. Army announced Tuesday. The Madison County resident works at the Fox Army Health Center’s pharmacy, which has been closed until March 25, according to a press release. All other services in the health center will remain open. The person … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

March 17, 2020

Jones sponsors bill for insurance plans to cover COVID-19 vaccines when they’re available

U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, D-Alabama, on Tuesday announced bipartisan legislation that would require health insurance plans to cover treatments and vaccines for COVID-19 whenever they should become available. There are currently no vaccines or medicines that treat or prevent infection. It could take a year to 18 months for a vaccine to be developed. “We … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

March 17, 2020

Drive-thru COVID-19 testing site at Birmingham church closed

NOTE: We’re tracking testing site information here. A drive-thru COVID-19 testing site at the Church of Highlands Grandview campus closed on Tuesday after thousands of cars clogged traffic on U.S. 280, Al.com reported. Attempts to reach church staff on Tuesday were unsuccessful, but Al.com reported that the heavy traffic was preventing staff and visitors access … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

March 17, 2020

Gov. Ivey says state’s banks prepared for COVID-19

Gov. Kay Ivey on Tuesday issued a statement expressing confidence in preparations made by Alabama’s banks in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. “I am confident in the preparations and plans that our financial institutions have put in place,” Ivey said in the statement. “I also have significant confidence in the underlying health of our … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

March 17, 2020

More restrictions on Alabama counties as COVID-19 cases increase

State health officials on Tuesday expanded an order limiting dine-in at restaurants and bars to include six counties. State health officer Dr. Scott Harris said at a press conference Tuesday that those businesses in Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Blount, St. Clair and Shelby counties are also ordered to refrain from serving in-house for one week. The … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

March 17, 2020

More restaurant, bar limitations and public health measures ordered across Central Alabama

For more information about the closures, visit this page. Restaurants, bars, breweries and other foodservice establishments across six Central Alabama counties will no longer be allowed to serve food or drinks on-premises for at least a week. The order will take effect at 5 p.m. Tuesday. The new public health guidelines come as the number … Continued

Chip Brownlee

March 17, 2020

SPLC joins ACLU of Alabama in request for plans to protect jails, prisons from COVID-19

Civil rights groups are demanding that action is taken to protect people in jails and prisons, who are vulnerable to the spread of COVID-19. The Southern Poverty Law Center on Tuesday called for the federal government and officials in Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida to protect those facilities through evidence-based protocols and to “release those people … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

March 17, 2020

Alabama House cancels March 25 committee meetings due to coronavirus

The Alabama House of Representatives announced on Monday that committee meetings scheduled for Wednesday, March 25 will be cancelled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The legislative day on March 26 has not technically been cancelled but the House is not expected to have a quorum for that day. A “quorum” is the minimum number … Continued

Jessa Reid Bolling

March 17, 2020

Opinion

Coronavirus will stretch Alabama hospitals and healthcare facilities to the breaking point

With cases of the coronavirus now being reported in Alabama, healthcare – especially in rural parts of our state – has become more important than ever. Several years ago, our state had the opportunity to expand Medicaid at almost no new cost to Alabama taxpayers. The federal government would have funded over 90 percent of … Continued

Craig Ford

March 17, 2020