Coronavirus

Mask Designed at UAB Can Protect You and Others From COVID While Taking Your Temperature and Pulse, Too. (No. It doesn’t do windows)

A fully transparent face mask designed by UAB’s chief innovation officer can include sensors to monitor the body’s temperature and pulse for early detection of viral infections, such as COVID-19. The mask design features a clear plastic mouth covering and clear nose barriers, chin barriers and ergonomic looped arms that secure around a wearers’ ear, said Rubin Pillay, Ph.D., who is the chief innovation officer at UAB’s School of Medicine. Pillay called his design “the world’s first smart mask.” Read more.

by Virginia MacDonald

On Second Thought: Hoover City Schools Return Elementary Students to Classrooms, but Not Older Kids

The Hoover City School District has altered a decision to return students to classrooms on a full-time basis because of a turn for the worse in local COVID-19 data. Instead, parents of children in fifth grade and younger who opted for in-school education will attend classes four days a week beginning Monday, according to a statement issued Tuesday by the system. That’s up from the two days a week that those students attend now. But those in grades six and higher will stay with the staggered two-day schedule — a reversal of a previous decision by the system to return to in-school classes every day. Parents who opted for virtual learning for their children may continue using that system. Read more.

by Robert Carter

710 New Cases of COVID-19, Four Deaths Listed in Wednesday Update

Alabama recorded 710 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and four deaths from the disease in Wednesday's update by the state Department of Public Health. There have been 127,523 confirmed cases and 2,257 confirmed deaths in the state throughout the pandemic. An additional 13,564 cases and 135 deaths are listed as probably from the coronavirus. Over the past two weeks, the state has averaged 664 new cases per day. That is down from an average of 880 cases a day on Sept. 1 and a peak of 1,787 on July 25.  Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Two New Trials Look at Whether Antibodies in Plasma Help Treat or Prevent COVID-19

UAB and Johns Hopkins University are seeking volunteers for two COVID-19 treatment and prevention studies that involve the effectiveness of antibodies to treat early-stage coronavirus and to prevent those exposed to the virus from catching the disease. The trials are to assess whether blood plasma is effective as an outpatient treatment, and they are being conducted at the

by Virginia MacDonald

COVID-19 Case Count Rises by 514 in Tuesday Update

The Alabama Department of Public Health reported 514 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Tuesday's daily update. The number of confirmed cases of the disease since the pandemic began in March rose to 126,813. Another 13,347 cases were listed as probable, for an overall total of 140,160. The agency reported 32 deaths, raising the total to 2,253 confirmed as resulting from the coronavirus, plus 134 listed as probable to bring the total to 2,387. The update showed 10 additional deaths in Jefferson County, eight in Lawrence County and six in Chilton County. An ADPH spokesman said those figures included a number of deaths that had been under investigation over the past several days in each of those counties. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Average Continues to Fall with 504 New Cases of COVID-19 in Alabama

The state added 504 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and three deaths in Monday's daily update by the Alabama Department of Public Health. The agency's COVID dashboard showed a tota of 126,299 confirmed cases of the disease and 13,160 cases listed as probable. The death count rose to 2,221, with an additional 134 shown as probable. The moving 14-day average fell to 653, the lowest since a two-week daily average of 694 on June 28. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Six Months After First Diagnosis, Alabama Totals 125,795 Confirmed Cases, 2,218 Deaths From COVID-19

Six months to the day after the first COVID-19 diagnosis in Alabama, the state on Sunday reported 125,795 confirmed cases of the disease and 2,218 deaths from it. There were 972 new confirmed cases of the virus and one confirmed death in the Alabama Department of Public Health's daily update on Sunday.  The first case of the disease in Alabama was reported on March 13. It involved a Montgomery County resident that ADPH said at the time had traveled outside the state. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Saturday’s COVID-19 Totals: 726 New Cases, 13 Deaths

Alabama recorded 726 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 13 deaths from the disease in the state Department of Public Health's 24-hour update on Saturday. The state's total for the coronavirus since the pandemic began in March rose to 124,823 confirmed cases and 12,823 probable cases for an overall count of 137,646. There have been 2,217 confirmed deaths and 133 listed as probable for COVID-19 for a total of 2,350. The moving seven-day average for confirmed new cases stood at 642, while the two-week daily average was 681, the lowest since an averageof 694 on June 28.  Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Alabama’s Nursing Shortage Worsens During Pandemic

Since the coronavirus started spreading in March it has had a huge impact on Alabama nurses. “Their whole system, as the largest workforce in health care, was disrupted,” said John Ziegler, the executive director of the Alabama State Nurses Association. In response to COVID-19, hospitals stopped elective surgeries and shut down outpatient clinics, leaving some

by Mary Scott Hodgin, WBHM

28 Deaths, 830 New Cases of COVID-19 Reported on Friday

There were 28 deaths from COVID-19 and 830 new confirmed cases of the disease in Friday's daily report by the Alabama Department of Public Health. The state's totals since the pandemic begain in mid-March rose to 124,097 cases and 2,204 deaths that were confirmed to have been from COVID-19. The Health Department lists another 13,298 cases and 125 deaths as probable. The average daily number of confirmed new cases stands at 687 over the past seven days, which is down from the average of 795 one week ago. The 14-day average dropped from 759 on Sept. 4 to 741 on Friday.  The 28 new deaths was the highest number since 42 were reported on Aug 29. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch