coronavirus

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

Ivey announces $11.9 million for fisheries impacted by COVID-19, flooding

Gov. Kay Ivey on Wednesday announced the $3.3 million in federal coronavirus aid money will be available in the coming months to Alabama’s seafood industry, impacted by the outbreak. In addition to the $3.3 million from the CARES Act, the state is to also receive $8.6 million in federal fisheries disaster relief funds due to … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

May 20, 2020

Montgomery hospitals are out of ICU beds, mayor says

Some of the River Region’s major hospitals have run out of intensive care beds and others only have one or two beds left, Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed said Wednesday at a press conference in Alabama’s capital city. “Right now, if you’re from Montgomery, and you need an ICU bed, you’re in trouble,” Reed said. “If … Continued

Chip Brownlee

May 20, 2020

Governor signs both state budgets

Monday, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (R) signed the General Fund budget (SGF), the Education Trust Fund (ETF), and the PSCA bond bill. “I appreciate the hard work of the Legislature during an unprecedented Regular Session,” Gov. Ivey said in a statement. “While we have yet to know the full impact of COVID-19 on our state, … Continued

Brandon Moseley

May 20, 2020

Doug Jones, Lisa Murkowski call for increased federal investment in education

Thursday, Senators Doug Jones (D-Alabama) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) led a group of their colleagues in urging Senate leadership to include robust funding for America’s schools, educators, and students in the next round of COVID-19 relief funding. “It is not just teachers who will be impacted by these shrinking education budgets,” Jones and the other … Continued

Brandon Moseley

May 20, 2020

Aderholt says $3 trillion “wish list” is not a serious proposal

Congressman Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville, spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives last week to express his opposition to the controversial Heroes Act. “No doubt, as it has been said, state and local governments across this nation are hurting because of the economic downturn this virus has created,” Aderhold said. “However, these times call … Continued

Brandon Moseley

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

Sewell urges Senate to take up $3 trillion coronavirus relief bill

U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell urged Republican leadership in the U.S. Senate to immediately take up the House’s $3 trillion coronavirus relief package, the Heroes Act, and pass it without delay. The package, which passed the House Friday with hardly any Republican support, includes nearly $1 trillion in aid to struggling state and local governments and … Continued

Chip Brownlee

May 19, 2020

We weren’t ready for mental, physical toll of COVID-19, experts say — and it’s not over yet

When Dr. Ken Duckworth learned that a reporter interviewing him was from Alabama, the first thing he thought of was college football. “The absence of college football is not a mental health problem, but it takes away one of my favorite things in life,” said Duckworth, chief medical officer at the National Alliance on Mental … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

May 19, 2020

April Weaver gets appointment as Regional Director for HHS Region IV

Monday, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Region IV announced that former State Representative April Weaver (R-Briarfield) was appointed by President Donald J. Trump (R) to serve as Regional Director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in Region IV. As a presidential appointee, Ms. Weaver provides regional executive … Continued

Brandon Moseley

May 19, 2020