Virginia Martin

How Long Does the Coronavirus Live?

As the fear of coming into contact with the novel coronavirus increases, people are asking how long the virus can live on surfaces and in the air. There’s no one easy answer because the virus can live for different lengths of time on different surfaces, but a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine sought to break down those risks. The study found that the half-life of the virus hanging in the air is about one hour. But researchers still could measure viable virus in the air after three hours. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

New Coronavirus Tracker Hopes To Locate Hotspots In Rural, Underserved Areas

UAB has created a new symptom checker to track the spread of COVID-19. The website hopes to give public health officials insight on virus hotspots, especially in underserved communities. Read more.

by Miranda Fulmore, WBHM

Theater Troupes Left Without an Audience to Entertain

Casting a wide net, the COVID-19 threat has ensnared local theaters, leaving stages bare and seats empty. Under orders to close, the theaters have canceled ongoing or scheduled productions and rescheduled other events, and they are scrambling to replace the audience revenue upon which they can no longer count. “It’s pretty scary,” said Tam DeBolt, executive director of Terrific New Theatre, a Birmingham institution for 41 years. “I’ve never experienced anything like this in my life. Theaters close all the time. It happens all over the country — every day, I’m sure. But something like this, it’s devastating for everybody.” Read more.

by Tom Gordon

Birmingham Community Foundation Targets $1 Million to COVID-19 Response

The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham is dedicating more than $1 million from its competitive grantmaking funds for a first phase of response to the COVID-19 crisis. Applications are being accepted now from organizations on the front lines of providing critical services and economic assistance in the Birmingham region. Read more.

by Carol Nunnelley

COVID-19 Cases in Alabama Rise to 1,161

The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Alabama climbed today to 1,161, according to the state Department of Public Health. The agency said it has confirmed 17 deaths from the coronavirus pandemic and is investigating the cause of death of another 15 people who had tested positive for COVID-19. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Association Protests Plan to Put Recovering COVID-19 Patients in Nursing Homes

The Alabama Nursing Home Association opposes a decision by Jefferson County Health Officer Dr. Mark Wilson to place patients who are recovering from COVID-19 in nursing homes. “The bottom line is for the past month, we have been doing everything that we can to prevent COVID-19 from entering nursing homes,” said John Matson, spokesman for the nursing home association. “Now, Dr. Wilson wants nursing homes to accept patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 even though they still exhibit symptoms and have not fully recovered. That decision goes against sound medical advice. “Just last week, the American Medical Directors Association issued guidance stating that nursing homes should not admit a COVID-19 patient until the patient has two negative tests, which is a test-based strategy according to the Centers for Disease Control, “ Matson said. Read more.

by Virginia MacDonald

Birmingham Could Be Two Weeks Away From NYC COVID-19 Rates

The coronavirus pandemic in Alabama is not as bad as hot spots elsewhere in the country, but public health officials expect that to change. Read more.

by Andrew Yeager, WBHM

Alabama Hits 999 Confirmed Cases of COVID-19, 13 Deaths

Alabama had hit 999 confirmed cases of COVID-19 by the end of the night Tuesday with 13 confirmed deaths. In total, 24 deaths linked to the new coronavirus had been reported to the Alabama Department of Public Health, which then confirms coronavirus as the cause of death. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Amid Prayers and Protective Gear, Legislature Postpones Session

MONTGOMERY — State lawmakers walked one by one into their respective chambers, each keeping a strict distance from one another and many wearing protective masks and gloves as the House and Senate met at the State House Tuesday. The Legislature was forced to convene Tuesday to formally adopt a joint rule allowing for the postponement of a legislative session during a state of emergency. Fifty-eight of 105 House members were in attendance, each asked to sit with a seat between them in chairs specially marked by neon green sticky notes. Twenty-two of 35 senators were present in the much more spacious upper chamber, enough to conduct the limited business of the day: deciding when to reconvene the 2020 regular session amid the outbreak of the new coronavirus. Both the House and Senate agreed to meet again on April 28, hoping the worst of the outbreak will be over by then. Read more.

by Todd Stacy, Alabama Daily News

Gov. Ivey Awards $9.5 Million in Broadband Expansion Grants

MONTGOMERY — Gov. Kay Ivey awarded 20 broadband expansion grants totaling more than $9.5 million to provide high-speed internet access to communities across Alabama. The grants are part of the Alabama Broadband Accessibility Fund and awarded to nine broadband providers to help fund multiple projects in their coverage areas. Ivey said that high-speed Internet is always important to have but especially now as cases of COVID-19 have increased in the state and more people are asked to work and learn at home. Public schools are now closed and students are finishing the academic year in their houses. Read more.

by Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News