COVID-19

News / National / State

VA encourages support for veterans as suicides increase

High rates of veteran suicides across the country, and especially in Alabama, were seen before the COVID-19 pandemic, and have only gotten worse since the public health crisis, but there’s work underway to bring awareness and aid. The Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System’s Be There campaign aims to remind veterans and their loved ones … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

September 2, 2020

Auburn University adds 517 COVID-19 cases among students, staff in one week

That figure is a 145 percent increase in new cases from the previous week, when Auburn added 207 cases among students.

Eddie Burkhalter

September 1, 2020

Nearly 32,000 Alabamians contracted the coronavirus in August

The Alabama Department of Public Health reported Monday — the last day in August — that another 696 Alabamians tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Throughout the month, 31,874 Alabamians were diagnosed with the coronavirus. That total does not include an unknown number of Alabamians who may have or have had the virus but were … Continued

Brandon Moseley

September 1, 2020

Nineteenth Alabama inmate dies after testing positive for COVID-19

Jonathan Mallory, 33, died on Aug. 27, becoming the 19th Alabama inmate to die after testing positive for COVID-19. Mallory was taken from the Fountain Correctional Facility to a local hospital on July 10 for treatment of an unrelated medical condition, the Alabama Department of Corrections announced Monday. Mallory tested negative for coronavirus upon admission, … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

September 1, 2020

Governor awards $10 million in federal coronavirus aid to timber industry

Gov. Kay Ivey on Monday awarded $10 million in federal coronavirus aid to help Alabama timber owners impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. “The forestry industry has an economic impact of over $23 billion in the state of Alabama and provides over 40,000 jobs in some of the most rural parts of our state,” Ivey said … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

August 31, 2020

536 Alabamians killed by COVID-19 in August

Over the weekend, the Alabama Department of Public Health confirmed an additional 50 deaths from COVID-19, taking the state’s COVID death toll to 2,067. With just one day left August, at least 536 deaths have been reported this month alone. August trails only the month of July in the number of Alabamians killed by COVID-19. … Continued

Brandon Moseley

August 31, 2020

University of Alabama reports more than a 1,000 cases of COVID-19

National news outlets including the Washington Post are reporting on the surge in coronavirus cases at the University of Alabama’s main campus at Tuscaloosa following the return of students. The 492 additional student cases raise the total number of student cases in the month of August to just over a thousand. On Friday, the University … Continued

Brandon Moseley

August 31, 2020

Free drive-through tests offered in Jefferson, Tuscaloosa counties through Sept. 2

Any resident of Alabama, children included, can be tested for COVID-19 at three testing sites that are accepting appointments until the end of business hours on Sept. 2. There are no requirements other than being willing to drive to one of the sites, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health. One is in Tuscaloosa … Continued

Micah Danney

August 28, 2020

Simple safety measures can prevent a Labor Day virus spike, expert says

Alabamians can avoid spreading COVID-19 during Labor Day celebrations by wearing masks around people from different households, staying six-feet apart and gathering outdoors or in areas with good ventilation, according to Jodie Dionne-Odom, an assistant professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Division of Infectious Diseases. “There’s no question now about what works. The … Continued

Micah Danney

August 28, 2020

Jones praises Maddox for tough coronavirus decisions

Alabama Sen. Doug Jones on Thursday held a press conference along with Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox, and Jones praised the mayor for being one of the first mayors to take steps to slow the spread of the virus, including implementing a mask mandate. Jones said that Maddox “has made a lot of tough decisions — … Continued

Brandon Moseley

August 28, 2020