coronavirus

News / Health / State

Alabama passes 10,000 COVID-19 cases, 400 deaths as more businesses reopen

The number of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 in Alabama surpassed 10,000 and the death toll reached 400 on Monday as more businesses including restaurants, barbershops, gyms and salons began reopening after the governor relaxed her “safer-at-home” restrictions. Infectious diseases experts and public health officials stress the virus is still spreading in the … Continued

Chip Brownlee

May 11, 2020

Alabama ranks as 4th most open state despite rise in COVID-19 cases

Gov. Kay Ivey’s decision Friday to reopen more state businesses and relax more of her safer-at-home order starting Monday put Alabama as the fourth most open state in the nation, according to a state and local government lobbying firm’s analysis. The Alexandria, Virginia-based Multistate Associates lobbying firm on Monday moved Alabama from the 22nd most … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

May 11, 2020

Legislature passes largest education budget in state history despite COVID-19 economic crisis

Saturday the Alabama State Senate approves the largest education budget in the history of the state. The budget was passed that morning with a bipartisan 31 to 0 vote just two days after the Alabama House of Representatives passed the budget. The Senate did make minor changes to the House budget, but the House voted … Continued

Brandon Moseley

May 11, 2020

Ivey’s response to controversy surrounding “wish list,” CARES Act

Suspicion and controversy surround the recently passed General Fund Budget, which includes around $1.8 billion given to the state to combat the economic ravages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Money appropriated by the U.S. Congress under the CARES Act and signed into law by President Donald Trump was directly sent to the State Treasurer by … Continued

Bill Britt

May 9, 2020

Inmate at overcrowded Kilby Prison tests positive for COVID-19

An inmate at the Kilby Correctional Facility in Montgomery has tested positive for COVID-19, becoming the ninth state inmate with a confirmed case of the virus. The inmate was exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 and was admitted to a local hospital, where he tested positive for COVID-19, the Alabama Department of Corrections said in a statement … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

May 9, 2020

State Rep. Kerry Rich: “We are not going to be in proration”

Amid a growing economic collapse due to the forced economic shutdown to deal with the coronavirus crisis, the Alabama House of Representatives met to pass the state’s Education Trust Fund budget Thursday. State Rep. Kerry Rich, R-Albertville, addressed the fear that the economic crisis could negatively impact Alabama’s schools. “We are not going to be … Continued

Brandon Moseley

May 9, 2020

Prison worker: Officer exposed to COVID-19 was forced to work before inmate tests positive

After the Alabama Department of Corrections announced Wednesday that an inmate at the Hamilton Aged and Infirmed facility tested positive for COVID-19, the staff at Hamilton already had a pretty good idea about how the virus entered the building. One worker at Hamilton Aged and Infirmed told APR on Thursday that a correctional officer at … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

May 8, 2020

“Why are we retreating when our caseload is increasing?”: UAB infectious diseases expert

One of the world’s top infectious diseases experts, doctor and renowned HIV researcher Michael Saag of UAB, sounded shocked when he picked up the phone to talk with me Friday afternoon. “I don’t know what to say,” Saag said. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Friday, in a press conference at the State Capitol, announced new … Continued

Chip Brownlee

May 8, 2020

Jones calls for continued social distancing, wearing masks amid partial reopening

Sen. Doug Jones, D-Alabama, on Friday urged Alabamians to heed Gov. Kay Ivey’s warning that, despite her decision announced earlier on Friday to relax more of the provisions of her “safer-at-home” order, COVID-19 is still with us, and still deadly. “I appreciate the fact that the Governor is doing all she can to walk a … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

May 8, 2020

Gov. Kay Ivey extends public health emergency, issues COVID-19 lawsuit protections

Gov. Kay Ivey on Friday extended the formal “public health emergency” for 60 days, beginning May 13. Ivey also issued another proclamation that provides liability protection for businesses and health care providers from being sued over COVID-19 matters if those businesses and health care providers “comply with or reasonably attempt to comply with applicable public … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

May 8, 2020