Glenn Stephens

Alabama Reports 1,669 Cases of COVID-19 and 38 Deaths in Friday Update

Alabama's COVID-19 count climbed by 1,669 cases Friday, and the state Department of Public Health reported 38 deaths from the disease in its daily report. The number of confirmed cases of the disease was down from Thursday's record 2,283 cases. The agency's COVID Dashboard showed a total of 74,365 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus since the pandemic began in March, and 1,395 deaths. Another 1,516 cases and 40 deaths were listed as probably resulting from COVID-19 but still under study. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

DOJ Finds Excessive Use of Force In Alabama’s Male Prisons

In a report released Thursday, U.S. justice officials said men confined to Alabama’s prisons are subject to excessive force at the hands of correctional officers. They said the issue is pervasive and systemic and likely violates the U.S. Constitution’s Eighth Amendment ban on cruel and unusual punishment. In the 30-page document, the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the three U.S. Attorney’s Offices for Alabama said prison staff regularly use batons, chemical spray and physical attacks to improperly and unjustly punish inmates. They said the excessive force can result in serious injury or death, citing two men who died in 2019 at the hands of correctional officers. Autopsies found both men were beaten so badly, they were left with intracranial bleeding and multiple head and body fractures. Read more.

by Mary Scott Hodgin, WBHM 90.3

Alabama Reports a Record 2,283 New Cases of COVID-19 on Thursday

There was a dramatic increase in the number of COVID-19 cases overnight in Alabama, with a record 2,283 cases reported Thursday by the state Department of Public Health. The daily report marked only the third time the state has recorded more than 2,000 cases for a 24-hour period. The count was up from 1,338 the previous day and raised the state's total number of cases to 72,696 since the pandemic began in mid-March. Another 1,400 cases were listed as "probable" for the disease but still being investigated.  There were 32 deaths reported in the daily count, raising the state's overall total to 1,357, plus 39 listed as probable. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Record 57 Deaths From COVID-19 Reported Wednesday in Alabama

A record 57 people died of COVID-19 in Alabama during the 24-hour period reported Wednesday by the state Department of Public Health. The deaths, spread over 29 of the state's 67 counties, pushed the total since the pandemic began in mid-March to 1,325. Alabama is now averaging 21 deaths a day over the last two weeks. The highest single-day figures had been 47 deaths on July 15 and 40 on July 14. The Health Department's COVID-19 Dashboard also showed 1,338 new confirmed cases of the disease over the past day, raising the overall number to 70,413. The state is averaging 1,741 new cases daily for the past seven days and 1,713 a day over the last two weeks. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Alabama’s COVID-19 Count Drops to Lowest Number in 11 Days

Alabama recorded 1,364 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, the lowest count in 11 days and well below the daily average for the past two weeks. There 11 deaths during the 24-hour period reported on the Alabama Department of Public Health's COVID-19 Dashboard. The number of confirmed new cases of the disease was the lowest since July 10, when 1407 cases were reported. The state is averaging 1,804 cases and 19 deaths daily over the last seven days and 1,701 cases and almost 19 deaths for the past two weeks. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Another 1,846 Cases of COVID-19 Reported Monday in Alabama

There were 1,846 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Alabama on Monday by the state Department of Public Health. The number of confirmed new cases of the disease brought the state's total to 67,711 since the pandemic began in mid-March. An additional 1,146 people were listed as probable, but as yet unconfirmed, cases. The state's COVID-19 Dashboard, in its daily 10 a.m. update, also listed three new deaths from the disease, bringing the statewide total to 1,257, plus 33 others listed as probable but still being investigated. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Alabama’s COVID-19 Count Tops 1,600 Daily for Eighth Consecutive Day

The Alabama Department of Public Health on Sunday reported 1,685 new cases of COVID-19 in the state, marking the eighth consecutive day with more than 1,600 new cases. The agency's COVID-19 Dashboard listed a total of 65,865 confirmed cases, plus 1,054 believed to be from the disease but not yet confirmed. There was one new death, bringing the overall count to 1,254, with 33 more listed as probably from the virus but still under investigation.  Alabama is now averaging 1,851 new cases a day over the past week and 1,601 daily during the last 14 days. The state is averaging 23 deaths daily for the last week and 19 a day over the past two weeks. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

More Than 2,000 New Cases of COVID-19 Reported Saturday in Alabama

Alabama added 2,069 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, bringing its total to 64,180, the state Department of Public Health reported. That marked the fourth consecutive day the number of new cases has risen. The state is averaging 1,840 cases a day for the past week and 1,558 daily over the past 14 days. The Health Department's COVID-19 Dashboard showed an additional 21 deaths for the 24-hour period, raising the overall total to 1,253 since the pandemic began in mid-March. The agency said an additional 980 cases and 33 deaths probably were from the disease but were still being investigated. Jefferson County continued to be the hotspot for the virus, with 295 new cases to bring its total to 8,400. The state's most populous county reported one death, for a total of 183. Shelby County added 93 cases to raise its total to 2,148. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Metro Areas Lead Daily Surge in COVID-19 Cases in Alabama

With the Birmingham, Mobile, Huntsville and Montgomery areas accounting for almost half the cases, Alabama recorded 1,953 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Friday, pushing the state's overall total to 62,111 since the pandemic began in March. The Alabama Department of Public Health's daily COVID Dashboard showed 32 deaths during the 24-hour period, bringing the overall total to 1,232. For the second consecutive day, Walker County had the most deaths; the county, which includes Jasper, reported six deaths on Thursday and five on Friday to raise its total to 48. The report marked the third straight day of increasing numbers of cases. Alabama is averaging 1,745 new cases a day over the past week and 1,482 daily during the last 14 days. Jefferson County again led the increase with 296 new cases for a total of 8,105. Mobile County had 199 cases to raise its total to 5,713, and Madison County listed 175 for an overall count of 3,148. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Jefferson County Reports 360 COVID-19 Cases as Alabama’s Count Continues to Climb

Jefferson County reported 360 cases of COVID-19 Thursday as the number of people testing positive for the disease in Alabama continued its steady climb. The Alabama Department of Public Health's daily COVID-19 Dashboard showed 1,933 new confirmed cases of the disease for the 24-hour period, pushing the state's total to 60,158 since the pandemic hit in mid-March. Another 842 individuals are suspected of having COVID-19 but their cases are still being investigated. Seventeen people died of the disease during the latest period, raising the state's overall total to 1,200, plus 28 more that are still being checked. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch