Glenn Stephens

Another Record Day for COVID-19 in Alabama

The state posted a record number of COVID-19 cases on Friday, along with the highest number of patients in hospitals with the disease, the Alabama Department of Public Health reported. There were 3,840 new cases of the coronavirus listed in the agency's daily report, bringing the total for the pandemic to 264,199. It was the fourth consecutive day with more than 3,000 cases and the most ever for a single day that did not include figures from previous days. Jefferson County continued to show high numbers, with 594 cases, while Madison County had 306. Read more.

by Glenn Stephens

Alabama Records More Than 3,000 COVID-19 Cases for Third Consecutive Day

Alabama added more than 3,000 cases of COVID-19 for the third day in a row, the state Department of Public Health reported Thursday. The increase of 3,531 cases brought the state's total to 260,359 since the pandemic began in March. Alabama has averaged 2,629 cases per day over the past week, up from an average of 2,292 a week ago. The Health Department added 65 deaths in Thursday's report raising the overall total to 3,776. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Alabama Adds Almost 4,000 Cases of COVID-19, 73 Deaths

Alabama recorded one of its worst days yet for the pandemic on Wednesday as the state Department of Public Health reported more than 3,000 new cases of COVID-19 and 73 deaths from the disease. The agency said the number of people hospitalized with the coronavirus also rose to its highest level to date. The agency listed 3,928 new cases, but it said 706 of those were from the period of Nov. 23 to Nov. 29. After subtracting the older cases, there were 3,222 new cases over the past 24 hours. That was just shy of the record 3,302 new cases reported for Nov. 30. Read more.

by Glenn Stephens

Jeffco Commission to Consider Mortgage Assistance

The Jefferson County Commission is expected Thursday to amend its disbursement of Cares Act funds to include mortgage assistance for residents adversely affected by the novel coronavirus pandemic. At their last meeting, commissioners approved federal funds for use in helping residents with COVID-related expenses related to rent and utilities. “We’d like to amend that moving forward to include mortgage assistance also,” Commission President Jimmie Stephens said Tuesday. “This truly expands the scope of help to include all of our citizens. It is much needed and necessary. I think this is something that will extend the reach of our COVID funds and allow us to help many, many more people.” Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Alabama Nears Deadline To Spend Coronavirus Relief Money

The clock is ticking for Alabama to spend its remaining COVID-19 relief funds. In May, the state received nearly $2 billion from Congress.  State finance officials are expected to give an update on the remaining funds this week. Meanwhile, dozens of organizations are urging Gov. Kay Ivey to use the money to help with immediate needs across the state. But getting aid to the organizations that need them is not an easy task.  Alabama has more than $800 million of coronavirus relief funds left and it must be spent by the end of December. Any remaining money will go back to the federal government.  Robyn Hyden, executive director of Alabama Arise, said the people who need this aid the most aren’t receiving it. Hyden said there’s a lot of red tape holding up the state’s relief funds.  Read more.

by Janae Pierre, WBHM

Alabama’s COVID-19 Case Count Tops One-Quarter Million

Alabama's COVID-19 totals continued to grow Tuesday, with the case count surpassing a quarter million, as the state Department of Public Health added 3,376 cases and 60 deaths. The Health Department said the figures were inflated by the addition of cases that were unreported over the holiday weekend. Still, the daily averages for new cases, including for the Thanksgiving period, continued a steady rise. The state has counted 252,900 cases of the disease and 3,638 deaths since the pandemic began in March. The average case count for the past week stood at 2,291 a day, compared to 1,241 one month ago. The daily average for the past 14 days stood at 2,289, up from 1,190 on Nov. 1. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Health Experts: Scale Back Thanksgiving Plans To Avoid COVID-19

Dr. Michael Saag with the UAB Division of Infectious Diseases said at a Friday press conference that Alabama residents should treat the fight against COVID-19 like it’s a real war. “We’re on a tour of duty right now, and we know our tour of duty ends by Thanksgiving next year. So what can we do to stay as healthy and, frankly, stay alive and survive this tour of duty and get home safe?” Saag asked. Jefferson County, like much of the state, is seeing a “staggering” number of new COVID-19 cases, said Saag. Health experts say the county is averaging more than 300 new cases each day; that’s three times the daily rate from September. Since March, Jefferson County has recorded about 30,000 cases and nearly 500 deaths related to the virus. Read more.

by Miranda Fulmore, WBHM

Hospitalized for Months: One Man’s Fight Against COVID-19

Since March, more than 22,000 Alabamians have been hospitalized with COVID-19, some requiring months of inpatient care. Victor Perea, 38, has been fighting the virus for almost three months at UAB Hospital. His wife, Magaly Cordova, said the diagnosis came as a shock. Before this illness, she said, Perea didn’t have any pre-existing conditions. “He was healthy,” Cordova said. “He was a gym guy – you know, eating healthy, go to the gym every day – and really careful about this virus.” Perea, who lives in Homewood, recently had gotten a new job installing IT systems. He found out he had COVID-19 in early September, after a co-worker tested positive for the virus. He's been in the hospital at UAB for three months, and remains in the Pulmonary Intensive Care Unit, and is slowly showing signs of improvement. Read more.

by Mary Scott Hodgin, WBHM

Football Programs Take a Big Hit from COVID-19

Football players at all levels are used to battles against their on-field opponents, who are easy to see though difficult to defend against. But the toughest opponent many teams have ever faced can’t be seen without a microscope. Yet it has the ability to make players very sick — and cripple entire programs. The COVID-19 virus has wreaked havoc on players and on high schools, colleges and professional teams, as well as the organizations that govern the sport. It’s also hurt countless others with ties to the game, from high school band boosters who sell food at home games to hotel and restaurant owners who cater to major college and pro fans on weekends. Read more.

by Robert Carter

COVID-19 Cases in Alabama Soar to Record Number

Alabama recorded its highest number of new cases of COVID-19 ever on Friday, with the state Department of Public Health reporting 2,980 total cases for the latest 24-hour period. There were 18 more deaths from the disease and a steady rise in the number of people being treated for the virus in Alabama hospitals. State and federal health officials have raised alarm over the rapid rise in COVID-19 cases across the nation in recent days, and they have cautioned against another surge as people gather for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. Nationwide, the number of new cases has grown from 100,000 a day eight days ago to a record 160,000 on Thursday, The New York Times reported. Read more.

by Glenn Stephens