Virginia Martin

Dr. Saag: Alabamians Get an F for Following Public Health Advice

Dr. Michael Saag has become frustrated with the public. The infectious disease doctor and COVID-19 survivor said recently that he knows people have become impatient with the continuing pandemic and are tired of changing their lifestyles to accommodate it. But the reaction from the public has been “not very mature,” he said during the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham’s Community Call last week. In fact, he said he’d give Alabamians an F in their ability to carry out public health advice that would have tamped down the virus – maintaining social distance, wearing face masks and staying home as much as is practical, among them. As a result, the state’s coronavirus cases have once again been rising, to the point that Alabama has shown more new cases than the entire country of Germany. That danger isn’t going away anytime soon. Saag said the novel coronavirus will be with us for a least another year – until doctors develop an effective vaccine or early treatment. Watch Saag’s presentation.

by BirminghamWatch

Jones Leads Senate Reading of King’s Letter From the Birmingham Jail

Sen. Doug Jones today led a bipartisan reading of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from the Birmingham Jail on the U.S. Senate floor.This is the second year the Senate has held a reading of the famous letter, which King wrote in 1963 from the cell where he was being held for leading a series of nonviolent protests and boycotts in Birmingham. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Fourth Inmate Dies With the Coronavirus

A fourth inmate in the Alabama prison system has died after testing positive for the coronavirus. Read more.

by Tom Gordon

UAB Treating Its Highest Number of Coronavirus Patients Since the Pandemic Began, Health Experts Say

The number of hospital patients with COVID-19 and people testing positive for the virus continues to spiral across Alabama and in Jefferson County, health experts participating in a UAB Hospital press conference said Monday. In the past seven to 14 days, 8% of people tested for the coronavirus had been showing positive results. But in the past seven days, that proportion has risen to 13%, said Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, director of UAB’s Division of Infectious Diseases. Seattle, once a hotspot, is now down to 1.5%, she added. Today, UAB has 68 COVID-19 patients, which Marazzo said is the highest number ever. Usually about half the UAB patients with COVID-19 are on ventilators. Read more.

by Virginia MacDonald

Ivey Stresses Personal Responsibility as COVID-19 Cases Shoot Up in Alabama

Gov. Kay Ivey's office said this morning that the governor and State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris are closely monitoring the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the state. "Until our next update, Gov. Ivey continues to reiterate that the threat of this virus is not behind us," her press secretary, Gina Maiola, said in an emailed response to BirminghamWatch. She said Ivey continues to stress the need for personal responsibility during the pandemic. "Our health care workers are doing their part. We are seeing businesses make sacrifices, and Gov. Ivey has faith in the people of Alabama to be smart as we wade through this health crisis," Maiola added. Alabama is among 21 states that have seen increases in their average daily coronavirus cases this week, according to data compiled by the Washington Post. Alabama, Oregon and South Carolina are among the states with the biggest increases. Alabama reported a 92% increase in its seven-day average; Oregon was up 83.8% and South Carolina, 60.3%, according to the Post data. Read more.

by Virginia MacDonald

Health Officials Urge Public to Redouble Social Distancing Efforts as Cases in Alabama Shoot Up

State health officials are pressing the message that Alabamians need to protect themselves as COVID-19 cases in the state continue their sharp increase. Read more.

by Virginia MacDonald

Senate Agrees to Debate Funding Bill to Maintain National Parks

WASHINGTON — Alabama’s senators split along party lines June 10 on a vote to start debate on HR 1957, which would greatly increase financial support of federal land agencies including the National Park Service and boost U.S. government funding of federal, state and local efforts to purchase and protect unspoiled acreage. Read more.

by Voterama in Congress

The Murals of Downtown Birmingham Transform Vandalized Streetscapes to Avenues of Hope

The cleanup and restoration of downtown Birmingham continues as more murals are painted on plywood used to secure buildings vandalized almost two weeks ago after a protest. Saturday morning, people are being invited to the Alabama Theatre, where they can get paint and go around painting their handprints on each of the large murals lining the sidewalks, according to Mary Jean Baker LaMay, one of the organizers of BHAM Cleanup. The Love mural above, by Véronique Vanblaere, is one of many painted this week, adding to artistry begun after the May 31 demonstration. See the photo display.

by Tom Gordon

Third Prison Inmate Died With COVID-19

A third Alabama prison inmate has died after testing positive for the coronavirus, the Department of Corrections announced today. All three inmates to have died after testing positive for the coronavirus have been at the St. Clair Correctional Facility. Read more.

by Tom Gordon

COVID-19 Hospitalizations Hit All-Time High This Week

As of Friday, there have been four days this week when the number of people hospitalized for COVID-19 went over 600, marking the highest period for hospitalizations since the pandemic began in March. Read more.

by Virginia MacDonald