COVID19

News / Health / State

Montgomery mayor issues order mandating face masks in public

Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed announced an executive order Wednesday mandating the wearing of face masks in the city, a day after the City Council vote on the requirement failed in a 4-4 tie. Reed said that after listening to warnings from health experts, he decided that the rule was necessary. Montgomery has seen rising hospitalizations … Continued

Micah Danney

June 17, 2020

ICU bed use, COVID-19 hospitalizations reach new highs in Alabama

Since the first case of COVID-19 arrived in Alabama in March, Dr. Donald Williamson, the president of the Alabama Hospital Association, has said he’s confident the state’s hospitals can handle an influx of coronavirus patients. That changed Tuesday morning, when the state recorded the most COVID-19 patients ever being cared for across the state and, … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

June 16, 2020

“We can’t handle much more”: Doctors sound alarm as COVID-19 surges in Alabama

Some 7,283 cases of the coronavirus have been reported in Alabama since June 1, or about 29 percent of the state’s total confirmed case count, and while many of those who’ve tested positive may not be sick enough to be hospitalized, a doctor treating the sickest COVID-19 patients in Montgomery says he’s not sure how … Continued

Chip Brownlee

June 14, 2020

For first time, Alabama reports more than 1,000 COVID-19 cases in a single day

For the first time, Alabama has reported an increase of more than 1,000 cases of coronavirus in a single-day, according to data from the Alabama Department of Public Health. The total number of coronavirus cases in Alabama jumped by 1,014 on Sunday morning. The previous highs were increases of 888 cases on Saturday, 859 cases … Continued

Chip Brownlee

June 14, 2020

Alabama health department: Outbreaks linked to Memorial Day gatherings

The Alabama Department of Public Health on Friday urged the public to be vigilant about the spread of COVID-19 given that nearly 850 new cases were reported in a single day on Wednesday, the most since the pandemic began. “COVID-19 spreads quickly, and your actions affect others. More than ever since the pandemic began, we … Continued

Chip Brownlee

June 12, 2020

Montgomery doctor: Where are we now with COVID-19?

Dr. David Thrasher, M.D., is a Montgomery-area pulmonologist and the head of pulmonology at Jackson Hospital. I’ve been asked by many people to give an update on where we are in Montgomery with the COVID-19 pandemic. First, let me say I cannot offer any medical advice or instructions online. Having said that, I do think … Continued

David Thrasher

June 11, 2020

Alabama reports largest single-day increase in coronavirus cases

Alabama reported a new daily high in COVID-19 cases on Wednesday. The number of positive coronavirus cases increased by 849, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health, surpassing a previous daily high of 640. {{CODE1}} Forty percent of the new cases from Wednesday came from the five counties with the largest total number of … Continued

Chip Brownlee

June 11, 2020

Governor issues new order for 14-day quarantine for inmate transfers to prisons from county jails

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey issued another supplemental state of emergency proclamation Tuesday meant to address the issue of COVID-19 in Alabama’s prisons and curb its further spread by putting in place new restrictions on transfers of state inmates from county jails to state facilities. The supplemental proclamation requires “prevailing medical standards” during intake — or … Continued

Chip Brownlee

June 10, 2020

“This situation is just not sustainable:” Alarming uptick in hospitalizations in Montgomery

It’s been three weeks since Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed sounded the alarm over rising hospitalizations in the River Region, but the rise in cases has not slowed, and hospitalizations are now much higher than three weeks ago when Central Alabama was in the national spotlight. “We’re just full,” said Dr. Donald Williamson, a former state … Continued

Chip Brownlee

June 9, 2020

Tuscaloosa mayor: “We have entered into a danger zone” as hospitalizations rise

While Montgomery County and the River Region of Central Alabama remain the top area of concern for state officials responding to COVID-19, Tuscaloosa County is showing signs of a worsening outbreak as cases and hospitalizations spike. “We have entered into a danger zone,” said Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox in an interview. “And if we continue … Continued

Chip Brownlee

May 29, 2020