Glenn Stephens

Blue Cross Waives Cost-Sharing, Co-Pays for COVID-19 Tests, Treatments, Hospitalizations

The state’s largest health insurer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, continues to waive cost-sharing, including co-pays, for those who need treatment for COVID-19. “We want our members to be assured that we are here for them as we navigate through this unprecedented time,” said Tim Vines, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama’s president, in a press release. “For our members diagnosed with COVID-19, we want them to have peace of mind knowing they have access to the care they need.” Read more.

by Will Whatley, Alabama Daily News

Alabama Parole Hearings to Resume May 18

Parole hearings will resume in Alabama in mid-May, under a supplemental emergency order issued by Gov. Kay Ivey. The order eases some of the restrictions set in Alabama statute about when and how parole hearings can be conducted as the state tries to limit person-to-person contact to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles said in an emailed statement that the May 18 start date follows the 30-day notice required for properly notifying crime victims and others. Leadership had halted hearings almost a month ago. Read more.

by Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News

Auburn Professor to Start COVID-19 Vaccine Testing

An Auburn University professor will soon begin testing new COVID-19 vaccines to see how they work alone or with other ingredients to help slow the spread of the virus. Dr. Constantinos Kyriakis, an associate professor for the College of Veterinary Medicine, will head the testing while working with Professor Ted Ross, the director of the Center for Vaccines and Immunology at the University of Georgia. Kryiakis will begin animal trials to investigate the effectiveness of different vaccine candidates. The testing will involve vaccine candidates’ effectiveness at triggering an immune system response in pigs. The tests will see what other ingredients could trigger a greater immune system response, in order to make the most effective vaccine. Read more.

by Devin Pavlou, Alabama Daily News

Two Dead After Testing Positive for COVID-19 at Veterans Home at Alexander City

Two residents of one of the state’s four veterans homes have died after testing positive for the COVID-19, the state Department of Veterans Affairs stated this morning. The two veterans, 89 and 99 years of age, were among 25 residents who have tested positive for the virus at the Bill Nichols State Veterans Home in Alexander City.  In addition, 18 employees at the Nichols home also have tested positive for the virus, as have two employees at the William F. Green State Veterans Home in Bay Minette. Read more.

by Tom Gordon

Surviving A Pandemic: How The 1918 Spanish Flu Changed Life in Alabama

In 1918, Edna Register Boone and her family were living in the rural community of Madrid in south Alabama. “I was 10 years old and my family was the only family in the little town that did not contact the flu,” Boone said. “Therefore my parents became automatic nurses.” In a 2007 interview with the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), Boone described her memories of living through the Spanish Influenza pandemic. Read more.

by Mary Scott Hodgin, WBHM

Schools Faced Social Distancing Hurdles in Meal Prep and Distribution

Preparing thousands of school meals for low-income children while school has been out due to coronavirus hasn’t been easy. Distributing those meals has been another challenge unto itself. That’s why some area school systems have had an on-again off-again relationship with providing meals to children since schools closed statewide about a month ago. Tens of thousands of low-income children in Birmingham and Jefferson County depend on free or reduced-price school meals. This week marks the first full week that both systems will outsource their feeding programs to a local nonprofit. But with the chaos of coronavirus, things got off to a rocky start. Read more.

by Gigi Douban, WBHM

As COVID-19 Projections Decline, Some Ask for Easing of Restrictions

While state leaders are making plans for re-opening businesses shuttered in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, some would like to see at least a few restrictions eased prior to the planned April 30 timeline. Public health orders in March and April told Alabamians to stay home unless for specific reasons, closed many businesses and put occupancy limits on others, including retailers. While grocery stores can remain open, some smaller retailers had to close. Read more.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Weather Safety Is Higher Priority Than Social Distancing, Health Officials Say

With severe weather in the forecast for much of Alabama this weekend, what’s more important: Taking shelter in the event of a tornado warning, or social distancing to fight spread of the coronavirus? The top priority should be protecting yourself and your family from a tornado, the state Department of Public Health said in a statement issued Saturday. The agency urged people to make plans in advance of severe weather. The National Weather Service has issued statements warning of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes across central and north Alabama from Sunday afternoon until early Monday. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Alabama Unemployment Rate on the Rise

More than 77,500 Alabamians filed initial unemployment claims last week, according to the Alabama Department of Labor. Of the 77,515 total claims, 71,374 were related to the coronavirus outbreak. Meanwhile, the state’s unemployment rate went from 2.7% in February to 3.5% in March, according to information released by the Labor Department today. But the department warned that the new number doesn’t capture most of the damage done by the coronavirus. That information will be reflected in the April rate released next month. Read more. ">

by Will Whatley, Alabama Daily News

Sessions Targets China, Calls for ‘Reset’ in Relationship

The outbreak of the new coronavirus has drastically altered the campaigns for Alabama's runoff elections. Originally scheduled for March 31, runoffs for the Republican races for Congress and U.S. Senate are now postponed until July 14. The pandemic and its total consumption of the news cycle have also shifted the narrative for candidates. Former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who is running for his former seat in the U.S. Senate, has capitalized on the situation to take an aggressive position against China and highlight his foreign policy bonafides. In the runoff, Sessions faces former Auburn University football coach Tommy Tuberville, who won 33% of the vote to Sessions' 32% in the March 3 primary election. Todd Stacy of Alabama Daily News interviewed Sessions and talked about his campaign and the issues he is discussing. Read more.

by Todd Stacy, Alabama Daily New