COVID19

News / National / State

As cases surpass 1,100 in Alabama, still no “stay-at-home” order

The number of positive novel coronavirus cases in Alabama rocketed past a thousand Wednesday, but the state still has no shelter-in-place order — and Gov. Kay Ivey’s office says she is not ready to implement one. “The governor remains committed to exploring all options and has not ruled anything out, but she hopes that we … Continued

Chip Brownlee

April 1, 2020

The behind-the-scenes efforts to combat COVID-19

Some days it seems the only visible action state government is taking is to update the public on the number of COVID-19 cases and those who have died from the disease. But in these times of dire public uncertainty, Gov. Kay Ivey’s team is working diligently to solve a myriad of problems facing the state. … Continued

Bill Britt

April 1, 2020

More than 200 people hospitalized with confirmed, suspected COVID-19

More than 200 people are hospitalized in Alabama with either a lab-confirmed case of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19, or a case the hospital suspects to be the virus but testing has not yet confirmed. At least 120 people with lab-confirmed cases of the virus — about 12 percent of the state’s 1,000 confirmed … Continued

Chip Brownlee

April 1, 2020

Opinion

A little effort can make a big difference in the fight against COVID-19

Will Ainsworth is Alabama’s lieutenant governor. Every American was a bit disappointed when the White House announced this week that social distancing guidelines will remain in place at least until April 30, and some governors across the nation have mandated that statewide shelter-in-place orders may be enforced until the end of June. Working from home, … Continued

Will Ainsworth

April 1, 2020

“I’m completely isolated”: A woman’s COVID-19 experience, from her hospital bed

For the past five days, Pamela Franco hasn’t seen her fiancé except over FaceTime. She’s at UAB’s University Hospital on one of the floors set aside for those infected with the novel coronavirus. Franco’s room is a typical hospital room, which she isn’t allowed to leave. The exercise she gets is from walking around that … Continued

Joey Kennedy

March 27, 2020

Growth of Alabama COVID-19 cases looks a lot like Louisiana. That should worry us

On a conference call with reporters Tuesday, Gov. Kay Ivey explained why she wouldn’t issue a “shelter-in-place” or “stay-at-home” order in Alabama. “Folks, we have no current plans to do so,” Ivey said. “We have seen other states in the country doing that as well as other countries. However, y’all, we are not California. We … Continued

Chip Brownlee

March 26, 2020

Alabama jobless claims soar past 40,000 this week, breaking records

More than 40,000 people filed a jobless claim to receive unemployment compensation in the first four days of this week, the Alabama Department of Labor says, more than quadrupling the number of claims filed last week when layoffs began hitting the state. Alabama Department of Labor spokesperson, Tara Hutchison, said Thursday that 40,628 people filed … Continued

Chip Brownlee

March 26, 2020

Lieutenant governor criticizes state’s lack of preparation, response to COVID-19

Alabama hasn’t done enough to prepare for the “tsunami” of COVID-19 patients that will hit state hospitals and are putting lives at risk, Alabama Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth told the members of Gov. Kay Ivey’s COVID-19 Response Team in a letter obtained by APR. The letter, in which Ainsworth was highly critical of the state’s … Continued

Josh Moon

March 25, 2020

As hospitals take drastic action to conserve masks, staff worry they’re putting themselves and patients at risk

Some health care workers at DCH Health System’s facilities in Tuscaloosa County are being told not to wear personal protective equipment like masks as the number of COVID-19 cases in the state continues to rise and hospitals rush to prepare for what’s ahead. Now a clinician in one of these units is showing symptoms of … Continued

Chip Brownlee

March 23, 2020

How do I apply for unemployment in Alabama?

Unemployment is surging in Alabama as businesses across the country have been forced close because of restrictions put in place to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. Just last week, more than 9,000 people applied for unemployment compensation in the state, according to the Alabama Department of Labor. Workers who lose their jobs because … Continued

Chip Brownlee

March 22, 2020