COVID-19

Do not let your guard down on COVID-19 in Alabama

Dr. Mark Wilson, M.D, is the Jefferson County health officer. Dr. Ray L. Watts, M.D., is the president of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. As parts of Alabama’s safer-at-home measures relax on Monday, May 11, health experts — including public health officials and world-renowned UAB infectious disease doctors and researchers — urge extreme caution. … Continued

Mark Wilson, M.D. and Ray Watts, M.D.

May 10, 2020

Phone problems, lack of information on COVID-19 worry inmates at Ventress prison

Gregory Anderson, Jr. was released from Ventress Correctional Facility on March 25, carrying legal papers and the only items the prison provides — $10 “on a card,” a pair of clothes and a bus ticket. Ventress gives these three items to everyone released, nothing more. Gregory, too, got a bus ticket, even though the bus … Continued

Matthew Vernon Whalan, special to APR

May 9, 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

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

Alabama restaurants, bars, salons can begin opening Monday, governor says

Gov. Kay Ivey said Friday that she will relax more provisions in her “safer-at-home” order amid the COVID-19 crisis, including allowing restaurants, bars, gyms, barbershops and salons to reopen with social-distancing restrictions. The new order goes into effect Monday, May 11, at 5 p.m. and is set to expire on Friday, May 22, at 5 … Continued

Chip Brownlee, 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

Opinion

Let’s build America’s health care equipment in Alabama

This is a difficult day for all of us. New unemployment numbers released this morning, some of the worst in our nation’s history, paint a grim picture of the economic devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Millions of Americans, and many of our fellow Alabamians, are out of work through no fault of their own. … Continued

Doug Jones

May 8, 2020