COVID-19

Coronavirus, or COVID-19, is a worldwide pandemic. It is now in Alabama. There is no reason to panic, but fear and anxiety are driving many to horde everything from toilet paper to Ibuprofen, leaving bare shelves from Walmart to the local pharmacy. Cautious vigilance is more the order of the day than panic. [visual-link-preview encoded=”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”] … Continued

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will allow all public schools in Alabama to provide food for students during the mandatory coronavirus (COVID-19) closures, according to a congressman in the U.S. House of Representatives. U.S. Congressman from Alabama Robert Alderholt tweeted on Sunday that the USDA granted Alabama a waiver for the National School Lunch Act … Continued

Congressman Bradley Byrne, R-Montrose, thanked President Donald Trump for his efforts to improve the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, but said that he still could not support it. “Tonight, I was asked to vote on a 110-page bill that spends billions of dollars and contains numerous mandates on small businesses only 26 minutes after receiving … Continued

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has directed department heads to advise workers to work from home, if possible, in response to the growing COVID-19 threat. “Because the safety of state employees is of utmost concern, each department director is authorized to advise employees to work from home if possible,” Gov. Ivey wrote to all state department … Continued

Congresswoman Terri Sewell, D-Selma, on Saturday commended the House passage of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. The package includes many provisions to protect workers and stimulate the economy during the COVID-19 Coronavirus public health crisis. “In the face of this ongoing pandemic, it is critical that the federal government is providing Alabama families with … Continued

The Young Republicans of Northeast Alabama have announced that they have endorsed former Auburn head football coach Tommy Tuberville for the U.S. Senate. The club’s membership voted overwhelmingly to endorse Tuberville. “It is clear that young people want a U.S. Senator who will fight for the issues we care about,” said YRNEA Chairman Dylan Smith. … Continued

The coronavirus has already affected the lives of people all across Alabama. It has especially impacted NCAA sports athletes and coaches. On Thursday the Southeastern Conference made the decision to cancel the SEC men’s basketball tournament just two hours before the University of Alabama was to tip-off against Tennessee. Shortly after that decision, the NCAA … Continued

Alabama Nursing Home Association President & CEO Brandon Farmer announced Saturday new visitation restrictions designed to protect Alabama’s most vulnerable citizens from COVID-19. “With a national state of emergency declared by the President, the Alabama Nursing Home Association is urging all nursing homes in the state to follow the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ … Continued

Five central Alabama public school systems have decided to close immediately as the numbers of coronavirus cases in the state continue to mount. Birmingham City Schools, Homewood City Schools, Oneonta City Schools, Vestavia Hills City Schools and Jefferson County schools are all closing immediately. Vestavia Hills City Schools statement on closure  “Vestavia Hills City Schools … Continued